By Gary S. Vasilash

The nominal payload for a Komatsu 930E-5SE—an electric truck that is used in applications like mining—is 640,000 pounds.

So when Charlie Freese, executive director of GM’s HYDROTEC business says that they believe that fuel cells “can play an integral role in a zero-emissions future, helping to electrify heavier-duty applications,” he’s talking about things like the 930E.

To that end, GM and Komatsu have entered into an agreement through which the companies will co-develop a hydrogen fuel cell power module—on the order of 2 megawatts—to power the 930E.

Dan Funcannon, Komatsu vp of North America Engineering and Development, says Komatsu has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Typically mining trucks and associated equipment aren’t powered by batteries, aren’t powered by fuel cells, but are powered by diesel fuel.

And diesel isn’t on the pathway to carbon neutrality.

GM HYDROTEC will develop the fuel cell modules, which they refer to as “power cells.” Komatsu will work on the mining truck.

The plan is to have the first prototype tested at the Komatsu Arizona Proving Ground with a few years.

While it may seem like a long time, as Komatsu has a truck and GM has a factory producing fuel cells, let’s face it: when you are on a mining site in the middle of nowhere, you want to make sure that the massive piece of equipment, approximately the size of a small building, works, day in, day out.

It’s not like you can call AAA for a tow.