From Mine to Motion: XNO^® Batteries Driving Heavy Equipment Electrification

Abstract: 

Electrifying heavy-duty mining equipment requires batteries that combine ultra-high power, long cycle life, and uncompromised safety in extreme conditions—requirements unmet by conventional graphite or LTO-based systems. Echion Technologies’ XNO^® (Mixed Niobium Oxide) anode materials address this challenge by enabling lithium-ion cells with continuous 7–20C charge/discharge capability, long longetivity, and stable operation without lithium dendrites, all while maintaining competitive energy density (270–320 Wh/L).

This presentation highlights recent performance results from commercial-format XNO® cells, including 44Ah prototypes with sub-milliohm impedance, rapid 3–10 minute charging, and robust cycling under full depth of discharge. We show how these attributes align with the demanding duty cycles of mining haul trucks, where regenerative braking, fast charging, and high reliability are critical to cost efficiency.

XNO® technology offers a practical pathway to decarbonizing mining operations, delivering significant fuel savings in hybrid applications and payback periods of less than two years. We invite industry partners to collaborate on deploying XNO® solutions to accelerate electrification in one of the toughest frontiers.

Bio:

Dr. Jianshen Wu is currently taking a role of Senior Technical Specialist at Echion Technologies Ltd. He received his doctorate degree in Materials Science in 2019 from Loughborough University where his research focused on the development of solid-state cathode for LIBs and the associated structural understanding. During his post-graduate studies, he was awarded the Armourers & Brasiers Medal by the Royal Academy of Engineering, in recognition of his merit to novel materials development. Following his education, he joined Echion where he led technical initiatives spanning from upscaling manufacture of niobium-based materials for market applications, to the associated environmental life cycle assessment in the context of  the sustainable economy. Jianshen's expertise has been recognized by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) which awarded him the status of Chartered Engineer in 2021. He has a proven track record of translating a laboratory niobium prototype battery into a market-ready product, effectively bringing differentiated battery technologies to homogeneous market. He is now primarily leading efforts for pioneering the battery development and product commercialisation of Echion’s fast-charging niobium-based battery materials (XNO^®) in the high-end market in China.