This case study highlights Epiroc’s strategic transition to an all-electric fleet. By using TWAICE’s Premium Battery Simulation Models, Epiroc confidently selected the best battery cells, accelerated development time, and enhanced customer experience.
Since launching its first electric vehicles in 2012, Epiroc has been steadily electrifying its portfolio to deliver the benefits that electric machinery offers underground (e.g., ventilation and workers’ health). In 2018, Epiroc started working with battery developer Northvolt to deliver on an innovative concept: ‘Batteries as a Service’.
Epiroc’s 'Batteries as a Service' business model provides full responsibility for the lifecycle of its vehicle batteries – from ensuring suitable capacity and monitoring performance to carrying out regular maintenance including replacements where necessary. This means Epiroc’s customers can more easily and smoothly transition to battery electric vehicles, as they would not need to invest their own time and resources to monitor or maintain the batteries.
"With Batteries as a Service(BaaS) we eliminate the risks of owning batteries and provide all the benefits of electrical power. We will take full responsibility for the batteries, from certification to maintenance and technology upgrades, using a truly circular business model." Epiroc
Given the unique and challenging conditions in which its underground electric vehicles would be operating, Epiroc recognized from the onset that battery performance and safety would be critical to the success of its strategy. In addition, Epiroc wanted to understand battery performance and aging more deeply to be able to confidently support its ‘Batteries as a Service’ business model. However, predicting the impact of temperatures, C-rates, and depth-of-discharge (DoD) on the battery lifetime under such varied and extreme conditions would require months of physical testing and data analysis
Epiroc employed TWAICE's Premium Battery Simulation Model to boost its modeling capabilities and optimize its vehicle battery packs for operating in extreme temperatures.
Armed with a cell-specific model, Epiroc was able to perform rigorous tests to understand cell performance under various load profiles, including different temperatures. They were able to gain further confidence in their ‘Batteries as a Service’ offering through expanded battery testing to assess cycling capacity and other performance metrics such as battery degradation.
"TWAICE provided us with the insights that helped us gain the confidence we needed to deliver a premium product to our customers. We accelerated the development of high-performing battery electric vehicles by months. With TWAICE, we can provide high-performing battery electric vehicles to our customers that meet the complex needs of the industry.”
With TWAICE's Premium Simulation Model, Epiroc was able to apply a new level of rigor to its battery testing and simulation process – assuring them that its 'Batteries as a Service' could stand up to the demanding needs of its customers. At the same time, Epiroc was able to shave months off its testing time and reduce its testing budget by thousands to get to market faster and help its customers in turn accelerate the transition to an electric vehicle future.
The TWAICE battery simulation models are physics-informed, coupled electric-thermal-aging models based on semi-empirical modeling approaches. They provide battery engineers with vital insights into battery aging & behavior throughout the battery lifetime, helping them to improve & speed up battery system development.
Epiroc is a global productivity partner for mining and infrastructure customers and accelerates the transformation toward a sustainable society. With ground-breaking technology, Epiroc develops and provides innovative and safe equipment, such as drill rigs, rock excavation and construction equipment and tools for surface and underground applications. The company also offers world-class service and other aftermarket support as well as solutions for automation, digitalization and electrification. Epiroc is based in Stockholm, Sweden, had revenues of SEK 50 billion in 2022, and has around 18 000 passionate employees supporting and collaborating with customers in around 150countries. Learn more at www.epirocgroup.com
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