SQM is moving on several fronts to promote electromobility and energy transition on a global scale. A few weeks ago, the company launched a funding campaign for startups that present innovative solutions for transportation, framed in sustainable mobility.
In Chile, for example, the company announced a few months ago an alliance with Uber, Tucar and Enel X Way to make an electric fleet available for lease to Uber partners in the metropolitan region.
On this occasion, SQM received 12 electrified units from Grandleasing, a company dedicated to the leasing of mobile equipment and part of the Jedimar Group, under the modality of operating leasing, in a ceremony held recently at the Jedimar Museum.
These are eleven electric Maxus ET90 vans, acquired by Grandleasing from Andes Motor, and a King Long 6130 Etech electric bus, purchased from Vivipra.
This zero-emission fleet will be used at the Salar del Carmen mine, near Antofagasta, and will replace diesel units that will be taken out of operation.
Related content: SQM to Finance Start-ups with Innovative Electric Mobility Projects
Fleet Features
The vans have a range of 350 kilometers and can be charged in 1.7 hours, while the 44-passenger electric bus has a range of 300 kilometers and can be charged in 1.5 hours.
Claudio Meza, Grandleasing’s General Manager, explained that these electric vehicles have numerous advantages over the current fleets operating in mining sites.
Among their characteristics are that they are zero polluting, which makes them environmentally friendly, they involve great savings in travel costs, since electricity is much cheaper than diesel, they have lower maintenance costs and pay less in road permits.
Additionally, these electric vehicles have in their favor an immediate acceleration, since their maximum torque is available from zero revolutions and, in addition, their regenerative braking allows battery recharging, which increases autonomy and saves brake pads.
With this important incorporation, 10% of the fleet that Grandleasing has among its customers is electric, a figure that is growing day by day and that reflects the commitment of this Operational Leasing company with sustainability and the environment.
