At Bauma 2019, VA Erzberg and Liebherr have concluded a development contract for a trolley assist system for the T 236 (100t mining truck). Since then the iron ore mine has been testing the diesel-electric truck in Austria. Th e truck was modified to operate with an overhead line connected through a current collector with bars on a 500 m long test track. Th e groundbreaking ceremony for the extended 5 km trolley line took place on September 29, 2020

Since signing the development contract for the trolley system at Bauma 2019, VA Erzberg has been testing the modifi ed T 236 diesel-electric truck in its siderite iron ore mine in Eisenerz, Austria. Th e tests were conducted on a 500 m long test segment.

Th is is the way it works: Th e diesel-electric truck is equipped with a current collector with bars that connect the truck drive system to the overhead power lines on uphill haulage segments to drive with electric power. Th is innovative technology allows for tracks with small radii and even switchbacks. It also allows for a wider use of the haul road width aside of the catenary line in comparison with conventional pantograph solutions. Th is is of importance when the haul road conditions are not optimal due to weather conditions for example.

Th e new extended track for a fl eet of six Liebherr T 236 trucks will have a length of 5 km with the upper section at around 1,055 m above the sea level.