--- title: Potential economic and operational benefits and impacts of trolley assist in open pit mining (Disponible en anglais seulement) date: 2014-05-09T16:07:00-04:00 author: jessica napert canonical_url: "https://www.bbaconsultants.com/fr-ca/publications/potential-economic-and-operational-benefits-and-impacts-of-trolley-assist-in-open-pit-mining-disponible-en-anglais-seulement" section: Publications --- 1. In a diesel-electric haul truck, a diesel engine is used to drive an alternator that produces the energy required to power electric wheel motors. Trolley Assist (“TA”) allows a diesel-electric haul truck to bypass the diesel engine entirely when in TA mode so that electric power can be supplied directly by overhead lines. The result is an increase of approximately 10km/hr. in loaded up-ramp travel speed, as well as the substitution of diesel fuel with cheaper and cleaner electrical energy. This improved grade performance can have a significant impact on truck productivity, personnel requirements, fuel consumption, and operating and capital costs. Although TA systems have been available for over 40 years and despite interesting operational and environmental benefits (reduced CO2, NOx, noise emissions, etc.), few operations have employed them. The decision to install a TA system is heavily dependent on the size and overall mine plan of an operation. Additionally, these systems involve significant capital investments and require technical expertise to efficiently design, plan and maintain them. This paper will analyze some of the economic, operational and planning implications and benefits of installing TA at large open-pit operations in Canada based on studies completed by BBA. *Note that this white paper was written in collaboration with Daniel Janusauskas from Detour Gold Corporation. It was presented at the Maintenance, Engineering and Reliability/ Mine Operators (MEMO) Conference in September 2014.* Ce contenu est fourni uniquement à des fins d’information générale. Tous droits réservés ©BBA 1. ![Isabelle Leblanc Carre](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/176805/Isabelle-Leblanc-Carre.webp) Isabelle Leblanc, ing. Vice-présidente, Marchés mines et métaux Lire la biographie [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-leblanc-5aa12848/) **Impliquée depuis +20 ans dans les projets miniers, Isabelle Leblanc aide les décideurs à avancer avec confiance** en mettant en évidence les scénarios qui créent de la valeur et sont réellement exécutables sur le terrain. **Expertises clés et certifications** - NI 43-101, JORC et diligence raisonnable, audits techniques - Stratégies d’exploitation et optimisation de fosses à ciel ouvert - Études et planification minière stratégique - Estimation des coûts et analyse économique des projets **Réalisations marquantes :** Direction de plus de 25 études (préliminaire, pré-faisabilité et faisabilité bancaire) en or, cuivre, lithium et fer, dans des environnements géologiques et organisationnels variés. **Approche et valeur ajoutée :** Isabelle est reconnue pour transformer les exigences techniques en options décisionnelles claires, permettant de réduire les risques et d’améliorer la performance globale des projets. - [ 17 août 2026 Phase de base de l'ingénierie structurelle: créer de la valeur dès les premières décisions - ![Nicolas Samson](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/197852/Nicolas-Samson.webp) Nicolas Samson, ing. Ingénieur sénior, Structure ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/fr-ca/perspectives/phase-de-base-ingenierie-structurelle-creer-valeur-des-les-premieres-decisions "Phase de base de l'ingénierie structurelle: créer de la valeur dès les premières décisions") - [ 12 août 2026 Les quatre erreurs qui nuisent à la performance future d'un actif industriel - ![Caroline provost](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/208557/Caroline-provost.webp) Caroline Provost ing. Directrice, Mise en œuvre de stratégie d’opération ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/fr-ca/perspectives/quatre-erreurs-qui-nuisent-a-la-performance-future-dun-actif-industriel "Les quatre erreurs qui nuisent à la performance future d'un actif industriel") - [ 27 juill. 2026 Mines et métaux Vos décisions liées aux résidus miniers influencent la performance à long terme - ![Geraldine Cosset](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/206707/Geraldine-Cosset.webp) - ![Jared Purdy](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/212424/Jared-Purdy.webp) ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/fr-ca/perspectives/decisions-liees-aux-residus-miniers-influencent-performance-long-terme "Vos décisions liées aux résidus miniers influencent la performance à long terme") - [ 02 juill. 2026 Mines et métaux Python : un outil clé pour l’analyse des données en traitement des minerais - ![Charles Blais](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/211197/Charles-Blais.webp) - ![Juan Pablo Vergara](https://www.assets.bbaconsultants.com/bba-production-assets/production/images/avatars/_size_avatar/211266/Juan-Pablo-Vergara.webp) ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/fr-ca/perspectives/python-un-outil-cle-pour-analyse-donnees-en-traitement-minerais "Python : un outil clé pour l’analyse des données en traitement des minerais") [ Voir tout ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/fr-ca/perspectives "Aller à la page Publications") Poussons la réflexion ensemble [ Contactez-nous ](https://www.bbaconsultants.com/fr-ca/contact) 1. In a diesel-electric haul truck, a diesel engine is used to drive an alternator that produces the energy required to power electric wheel motors. Trolley Assist (“TA”) allows a diesel-electric haul truck to bypass the diesel engine entirely when in TA mode so that electric power can be supplied directly by overhead lines. The result is an increase of approximately 10km/hr. in loaded up-ramp travel speed, as well as the substitution of diesel fuel with cheaper and cleaner electrical energy. This improved grade performance can have a significant impact on truck productivity, personnel requirements, fuel consumption, and operating and capital costs. Although TA systems have been available for over 40 years and despite interesting operational and environmental benefits (reduced CO2, NOx, noise emissions, etc.), few operations have employed them. The decision to install a TA system is heavily dependent on the size and overall mine plan of an operation. Additionally, these systems involve significant capital investments and require technical expertise to efficiently design, plan and maintain them. This paper will analyze some of the economic, operational and planning implications and benefits of installing TA at large open-pit operations in Canada based on studies completed by BBA. *Note that this white paper was written in collaboration with Daniel Janusauskas from Detour Gold Corporation. It was presented at the Maintenance, Engineering and Reliability/ Mine Operators (MEMO) Conference in September 2014.* Ce contenu est fourni uniquement à des fins d’information générale. Tous droits réservés ©BBA