Optimizing use of battery electric mine vehicles based on simulations

A method for mine configuration optimization, comprising:

• receiving a plurality of vehicle models each model reflecting performance characteristics of a vehicles, the plurality of vehicle models including at least one battery electric vehicle;
• receiving a geographical model of a mine layout, the geographical model including data representing a road network, one or more electrical trolley lines and a plurality of vehicle destination points;
• receiving a plurality of vehicle movement rules governing the movement of vehicles within a mine;
• in a mine operation model using a plurality of mine configuration parameters, iteratively performing the steps of:
• simulating movement of a plurality modeled vehicles using the geographical model of the mine, in accordance with the vehicle movement rules, each of the plurality of modeled vehicles being reflected in the plurality of vehicle models;
• on the basis of the simulated movement, computing a mine output parameter,
• altering a mine configuration parameter;
• and
• altering a physical mine configuration on the basis of one or more computations of the mine output parameter,
• wherein altering a physical mine configuration on the basis of one or more computations of the mine output parameter comprises changing a proportion of diesel-electric to battery electric vehicles operating in a mine and operating diesel-electric and battery electric vehicles in a mine in accordance with a changed proportion of diesel-electric to battery electric vehicles to transport mined material.