Proterra, a commercial vehicle electrification technology company, and Komatsu, a manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, have announced a collaboration to electrify next-generation underground mining machines using Proterra’s battery technology.

Proterra will supply its H series battery system technology to Komatsu for the development of battery-electric load haul dumps (LHDs), drills, and bolters for underground hard rock mining. Mining equipment and services provider Komatsu plans to use Proterra’s battery systems for the development of prototype machines this year before the expected commencement of commercial production in 2022.

This is the second collaboration between Proterra and Komatsu. The two companies previously announced an agreement in which Proterra supplies its battery systems to support Komatsu in electrifying its first medium-sized hydraulic excavators.