Fortescue builds 6 MW truck chargers using car factory robots for Pilbara mine electrification
By Eve
Mining company Fortescue is deploying 6 MW electric truck chargers, equivalent to 24 Tesla 250 kW superchargers, at its Eliwana mine in the Pilbara as part of a $6 billion programme to electrify hundreds of 240 tonne haul trucks and eliminate fossil fuels by 2030. The company developed its own charging technology after testing in Perth because no commercial 6 MW chargers exist, adapting industrial welding robots from car factories to automate the charging process as the plugs are too large and dangerous for manual handling.
Why it matters
The project demonstrates the emerging ultra high power charging segment above 1 MW for heavy industrial vehicles, where bespoke engineering and cross industry component sourcing are required. Fortescue's in house development and robotics integration may inform future procurement specifications for mining and heavy haulage operators seeking to electrify large fleets.
Source
- Original title
- “Fortescue adapts car welding robots for its 6 MW electric truck chargers, the world’s biggest”
- Published
- 12 October 2026
- Updated
- 13 October 2026
In this story
- Topic
- EV Charging
- Place
- Australia
- Tag
- Fortescue
Related news
Tesla leads US fast charger growth with 1,287 Q3 ports as national total passes 80,000
The US reached 80,964 public fast charging ports across 14,614 locations by end September 2026, adding 4,106 ports at 664 stations in Q3, according to Paren's quarterly report. Tesla installed 1,287 ports plus 124 via Supercharger for Business, ahead of IONNA with 378 ports and Walmart with 344. New non-Tesla sites averaged five ports, up from 4.1 a year earlier, though Q3 rollout slowed with about 9% fewer ports and 20% fewer stations than the same period in 2025.
Why it matters
Larger average site sizes reduce the risk of occupied stalls for fleet operators and public users, improving utilisation planning. The slowdown in station openings against rising port counts per site signals a shift toward fewer but higher capacity installations, relevant for CPOs evaluating deployment strategies and procurement teams assessing network coverage.
Tesla opens first Megacharger site with Pilot in Georgia, 12 more under construction
Tesla has launched its first Megacharger site at Pilot travel centre #1390 in Ellabell, Georgia, featuring six heavy-duty charging stalls under a partnership announced in January 2026. Twelve additional locations are under construction across major US freight corridors, with three sites in California, Texas and Nevada nearing completion. Each location will feature four to eight high-power stalls using Tesla's V4 cabinet technology, delivering up to 1.2MW per stall to recover 60% charge in 30 minutes for a Tesla Semi.
Why it matters
The rollout marks the first commercial deployment of Tesla's Megacharger network for heavy-duty electric trucks, targeting long-haul freight operators along Interstate 5, Interstate 10 and other key routes. For CPOs and fleet operators, the 1.2MW charging capacity and strategic Pilot travel centre locations signal a new infrastructure model for electrifying commercial trucking at scale.
Delhi to add 150 electric buses and five public charging stations, bringing fleet to 5,238 EVs
The Delhi Government will dedicate 150 new electric buses and inaugurate five public EV charging stations at Swami Vivekanand ISBT Anand Vihar and four DTC depots (Nand Nagri, Rohini Sector 37, Nangloi and Keshopur). The additions will bring Delhi's electric bus fleet to 5,238 vehicles within a total fleet of approximately 6,988 buses, including 1,750 CNG buses. Under a structured fleet augmentation programme, Delhi's total bus fleet is projected to expand to nearly 14,000 buses by FY 2028 to 29.
Why it matters
Delhi's continued electric bus deployment and charging infrastructure expansion demonstrate sustained public sector commitment to electrification at scale, creating ongoing procurement opportunities for bus and charging equipment suppliers. The city's leadership in electric bus numbers and its clear timeline to 14,000 buses by 2028 to 29 signals predictable demand for depot charging and maintenance contracts.