Trolley Trucks in the Mining Industry: Analysis of Current Experience and Prospects for Development in Ukraine

This study analyzes the global experience with trolley-assist haul trucks in mining, substantiates their feasibility for Ukrainian open-pit mines, and develops a mathematical model describing the dependence of economic effect on the electrification coefficient (k e ) of haul roads. The methodology involves analyzing technical and operational data from Canada, Finland, Zambia, and South Africa, adapting it to Ukrainian conditions, and modeling the integral economic effect. The dependence is described by a saturating Hill function, with parameters determined via the least squares’ method using empirical and calculated data. Results show that a combined diesel–trolley system offers an optimal balance between economic efficiency, productivity, and capital costs. The model identifies an optimal k e range of 0.20–0.40 for Ukraine, achieving 70–80% of the full electrification benefits. The analysis confirms nonlinear growth of the effect and saturation beyond k e ≈0.40. For the first time, global operational data have been integrated with modeling for Ukrainian open pits, producing a tool adaptable to various mining and geological conditions. The methodology supports phased electrification, fuel savings of 25–30%, CO₂ reduction by 20–25%, and substantial productivity gains.