Carbon reduction company First Mode has shipped its first battery system built in Australia to the US. The 264 kWh battery was transported to First Mode’s Proving Grounds, a former coal mine under active reclamation in Washington state, where the company tests its low-carbon and zero-emission ultra-class haul truck retrofit innovations. The battery will be specifically used in the company’s suite of electrified haulage solutions for decarbonising the mining and rail industry.

The battery was developed and built by engineers at First Mode’s facility in Perth, Western Australia. Operating since 2022, the facility’s personnel contribute to First Mode’s mission across a range of needs, including industry-leading battery design and development. To devise the battery, the Australian team drew on their deep understanding of mining environments to help ensure First Mode’s electrified retrofit solutions offer a competitive alternative to diesel-powered engines under real-world conditions.