1163 Additionally, the system demonstrates a strong capacity for optimizing existing assets, as it allows for the retrofitting of conventional diesel engines without the need for significant structural modifications. This contrasts with the full replacement of fleets by hydrogen-powered vehicles, which requires substantial capital investment, thereby contributing to enhanced operational efficiency of already established technologies. To ensure statistical robustness of the results, field monitoring conducted in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero region was structured using equivalent and representative operational windows. The experimental design included between 350 and 380 trips per phase, both under baseline conditions and with the implemented technology, with a total monitored distance ranging from approximately 5,800 to 6,000 km per phase. The operational route was kept constant, with an approximate length of 18 km, ensuring topographical and load equivalence, with a fixed payload of 25 tonnes, thereby enabling consistent comparability of the analyzed performance indicators. Operational Performance: The increase in average speed (+4.50%) and productivity (+5.26%), resulting from hydrogenassisted supplementation, demonstrates an improvement in operational cycle efficiency, associated with a more efficient combustion process. This gain enables the strategic resizing of the haulage fleet, since, from a mining engineering perspective, enhanced transport efficiency allows production targets to be maintained with a smaller number of operating trucks, without the need for physical fleet expansion. This optimization directly contributes to the reduction of operational costs and the environmental performance of the operation. A lower number of active units reduces maintenance and repair demands, which are significant components of total operating costs. Additionally, the observed specific fuel savings (10.07% per truck) are further amplified by fleet reduction, leading to lower total diesel consumption and reduced exposure to fuel price volatility. From an environmental standpoint, the approximate reduction of 19 tonnes of CO₂ per vehicle per year is magnified at the operational scale, contributing to an overall decrease in emissions. Therefore, the results indicate not only performance gains but also a consistent potential for structural optimization of the operation, whereby improved energy efficiency enables the simultaneous reduction of operating costs and environmental impacts while maintaining the mine’s productivity level.. Improvements were observed: • Average speed: +4.50% • Productivity: +5.26% These findings suggest combustion optimization and improved engine response under the tested conditions. Table 1 – Comparative operational indicators (baseline vs. H₂). Truck H2 Baseline Number of Trips Total Distance (km) Average Fuel Consumption (L/100 km) Average Speed (km/h) CB50XX No Yes 359 5818.3 138.6 21.2 CB50XX Yes No 370 5952,1 124,7 22,16
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