Future Fleets Insights 2026 looks at how companies are using alternative energy sources and other technology to cut CO2 emissions

The 2026 Future Fleets Insights report shows a mining industry accelerating toward automation, while moving more cautiously on fleet electrification.

Confidence in load, haul and ore-transport technologies is high. 98% of respondents report successful outcomes, with most expecting investment to grow by 10–50% by 2030. Efficiency, cost reduction and worker safety are the main drivers, and automation is now widely seen as mature and reliable, particularly in Australia.

Electrification tells a different story. Low-emission options for light vehicles are viable, but large trucks and heavy equipment face limits due to technology readiness, infrastructure gaps and high upfront costs. Battery-electric haul trucks are expected to become a top priority by 2030, though half of respondents say infrastructure investment is falling short.

Overall, the industry has moved beyond trials, focusing on site-wide automation while confronting the longer-term challenge of decarbonisation.

Methodology:

The Future Fleets Insights report combines findings from Mining IQ’s survey of 188 mining professionals with insights from 10 notable mine sites to show how fleet innovation is being applied in practice across the globe. These perspectives reveal how operators are deploying automation, electrification and digital fleet technologies across active operations, and what barriers persist.