The MT65 E-Drive will combine a traditional diesel engine with electric drive system technology to, hopefully, significantly reduce the amount of diesel used across a mine's fleet and increase operational productivity.

It could get around the biggest challenge battery-electric trucks have in underground mining in Australia - an inability to get up a decline on one charge.

So far solutions suggested have included trolley-assist and putting battery changeout bays in the decline.

A hybrid, while not getting rid of the diesel entirely, could get around the decline problem. The diesel gets the truck up the decline while the battery part moves the truck around on the flat.

The Gold Fields project team will work with Epiroc's Underground division, research and division headquartered in Orebro, Sweden to review development and plan the trial phases.

He said the company's innovation agenda went hand-in-hand with its customers' sustainability agendas.

"We are proud to partner with Gold Fields in the development of a future-proof, low emission mine truck in the large segment that will support them in reducing their emissions as well as overall TCO [total cost of ownership] without compromising on safety and productivity," Niiranen said.

Gold Fields executive vice-president Stuart Mathews said the alignment of sustainability targets was a key driver for the partnership.

"Gold Fields is committed to its decarbonisation targets and we have been a leader in the Australian mining sector at integrating renewable energy and battery storage into our operations," he said.

"We are pleased to be partnering with a company like Epiroc who are investing in technical solutions that support our target of reducing carbon emissions while maximising our potential from current assets like Granny Smith through innovative solutions."