Charged up to go underground: dryden mining supplier showcases electric vehicle.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: DRYDEN / KENORA - RES Equipment Sales

Add the moniker of matchmaker to Bob Ray's title as president of RES Equipment Sales.

The Dryden mining equipment supplier was instrumental in the early development of an underground electric utility and mine service vehicle that could make its way into mines across Northern Ontario.

From his shop on the Trans-Canada Highway in the northwestern Ontario community of 8,200, Ray has been trailering a 4,320-pound EUV (Electric Utility Vehicle) to mining camps across the region to gauge interest in the market.

The whole project has come together fairly quickly over the last two years.

Ray had the idea for such a vehicle 15 years ago when he started the company. But the opportunity came up when Ray spoke to a Goldcorp maintenance manager in Red Lake about their immediate need for as many as 35 electric personnel carriers.

There is a direct need in the Canadian mining industry for electric vehicles today as mines go deeper and ventilation requirements become more costly to pump air down several thousand feet and vent diesel emissions out.

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"All the mines are getting deeper, that's where they're finding the best ore bodies, so the need for this vehicle becomes more apparent," said Ray.

He thought he could help Goldcorp since he's the Canadian distributor for the Oldenburg Group, a U.S. underground mining vehicle manufacturer of mobile rock drills, jumbos, roof bolters and utility vehicles.

Oldenburg has a long history in manufacturing electric vehicles, especially 20-ton haul trucks. However, it took some arm twisting to convince them to get involved in developing such a small vehicle. "They had the technology, but they had to shrink it to suit this."

There weren't any mechanical or technical constraints, but the company needed some convincing of its potential.

Most of the U.S. mines Oldenburg works with are coal and aggregate mines that are only a few hundred metres deep and don't have ventilation and diesel emission issues.

"They weren't sure it was a project that could really go somewhere." said Ray

He set up a meeting between Oldenburg and Goldcorp in December 2009 and what they came up with was the EUV 400 which produces no emissions, no heat and no noise.

Depending on the vehicle configuration and future attachments added, it can carry between two and seven seats for mechanics, surveyors and electricians.

The four-wheel drive vehicle is powered by a 25 horsepower electric motor with 12 batteries producing 72 volts.

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