World's First Sodium-Ion Electric Mining Truck Enters Operation in China

The world's first sodium-ion battery–powered electric mining truck — Tonly K120E — has officially entered real-world operation at the Sanyou Limestone Mine in Tangshan, Hebei Province. Developed jointly by Chinese equipment manufacturer Tonly Heavy Industry and battery firm Haina Battery, this vehicle marks the first large-scale engineering application of sodium-ion battery technology in heavy-duty commercial transport.

The vehicle is equipped with the 'Haixing' series sodium-ion battery system, with a total capacity of 676 kWh. According to claims, it supports full charging — from 0% to 100% — in just "a few minutes," and offers an impressive cycle life of up to 8,000 cycles. Compared to mainstream lithium-ion batteries, this chemistry avoids geopolitical risks tied to lithium resources, delivers an energy density of 165 Wh/kg, superior thermal stability (enhancing fire safety), and — critically — outstanding low-temperature performance.

This capability directly addresses a key operational challenge in northern China's frigid mining regions: nighttime temperatures in cities like Harbin and Shenyang frequently plunge to -20°C. Under such conditions, conventional lithium batteries suffer sharp range loss, while diesel engines face cold-start difficulties and severely degraded efficiency. The sodium-ion battery's low-temperature resilience enables the K120E to maintain stable power delivery and reliable charge/discharge performance even in extreme cold.

Beyond technical breakthroughs, the model also delivers upgrades in safety and operational reliability. Extreme cold not only reduces productivity but significantly increases occupational health risks — including frostbite and hypothermia — for drivers. Tonly previously announced plans to deliver 800 units of its TLE135 autonomous mining trucks to Xinjiang Hanxiang, underscoring its systematic push toward zero-emission, low-noise, high-safety, all-climate mining transportation solutions.

At present, no official mass-production timeline or pricing has been disclosed; the vehicle remains in the engineering validation and demonstration operation phase. Industry analysts note that successful deployment of sodium-ion batteries in demanding applications — high-load, long-cycle, wide-temperature-range operations — could accelerate their adoption across the broader commercial vehicle sector.