Michele Beacom - 05 November 2025

CIM is offering a new battery electric vehicles operations in mining short course

CIM Academy is offering a new short course this fall. “Battery electric vehicles operations in mining” comprises seven modules designed to provide industry professionals with a clear, practical understanding of BEVs—from core technologies and safety principles to business case development—preparing them to navigate the transition to electrified fleets.

Developed with an operations-first, vendor-neutral approach, the course combines interactive learning, real-world case studies and actionable insights that participants can apply immediately in the workplace. For newcomers to the technology seeking to establish a strong foundation to experienced professionals  looking to connect technical expertise with operational strategy and safety frameworks, this course delivers the tools to support BEV adoption in mines.

“While colleges provide in-depth training for maintenance technicians, this course helps everyone else get up to speed on terminology, buying considerations, expected performance, hazard recognition and the lessons learned from years of BEV development and deployment,” said course instructor David Francis Lyon, founder and president of Zero Nexus. “It’s a practical ‘BEV Mining 101’ experience built with the inputs of colleagues, friends and industry experts.”

To better understand the knowledge gaps mine operators were facing, in 2022 and 2023 Zero Nexus conducted interviews with more than 100 operators. From the information gleaned, Lyon and Zero Nexus associate partner Edward Fagan created a short course, entitled “Adoption strategies and challenges for BEVs in mines,” which was delivered at CIM CONNECT three years in a row.  This in-person course became the foundation for the new online, on-demand short course.

“Partnering with CIM was a natural fit for co-development and delivery,” said Lyon.

The four-hour training aims to provide participants with a foundational understanding of the technology and infrastructure for BEVs in mining; the fundamentals of the different battery chemistries; the hazards and safety protocols; the benefits and challenges of BEVs in mining as compared to diesel; and the business case for switching to BEVs, from calculating total cost to managing organizational change. Participants who complete the training will receive a certificate and four continuing professional development hours.

What is CIM Academy?

It is an online learning platform designed for your professional development needs. It offers a variety of resources including:

•  Webinars  •  Podcasts  •  Short courses 
•  Distinguished Lecturer presentations 
•  Technical presentations from CIM conferences

The content is available on-demand, 24/7. CIM Academy is free for CIM members, excluding short courses, for which they receive a discounted rate.