Abstract
With rising fuel prices globally, and the drive to decarbonize the haul cycle, the mining industry is rapidly exploring options to electrify the haul cycle. Many haul trucks in use today already utilize an on-board electrical propulsion system, and advances in the electric-drive technology over the past 20 years have been remarkable. With the addition of trolley-assist to the electrical drive system, electricity from the grid can be directly fed to the propulsion drive system, significantly reducing the carbon intensity of the haul cycle.
While trolley assist technology is not new to the mining industry, it is experiencing an evolution through innovation. This paper will look at the trolley technology being deployed today and will speak to how trolley assist is the setting the foundation towards zero emission haulage.