MacLean Engineering has received a $2.5m (C$3.42m) investment from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) for its battery-electric vehicle (BEV) research and development efforts aimed at supporting mining operations.
This funding, being delivered through NRCan’s Mining Decarbonisation Demonstration Call under the Energy Innovation Programme, aims to expedite the commercialisation of MacLean's GR8 EV Grader, the first model from the company's newly established Surface Mining Vehicle division.
The development of the GR8 EV Grader fleet was first announced in September 2024 at MINExpo by MacLean and Fortescue for the latter’s sites in Western Australia.
This 18ft-blade, battery-electric pit-class grader has been designed to help mining companies reduce their carbon footprint.
The announcement took place at the Canadian Critical Minerals Forum during the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada 2026 Convention in Toronto.
Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson made the announcement alongside Stella Holloway, president of MacLean Engineering.
The funds will support MacLean's design and development initiatives for mining operations within Canada and globally.
Holloway said: “As a proudly Canadian company, we are focused on growing our capabilities here at home while delivering sustainable mining solutions to customers around the world.
“NRCan’s support accelerates the commercialisation of our battery-electric technologies and enables us to move faster in building our new Surface Mining Vehicle division. Together, we are advancing practical electrification pathways that strengthen Canada’s critical minerals supply chain and position Canadian clean technology on the global stage.”
The new Surface Mining Vehicle division is focused on addressing surface mining challenges by combining customer feedback with engineering and electrification strategies.
