255 mining, accounting for up to 32% of total energy expenditures. In this context, the incorporation of energy-efficiency technologies has a direct impact on operational profitability. The observed reduction of 10.07% in specific fuel consumption represents a significant improvement in operating margins, particularly under conditions of high volatility in oil prices. Regarding performance, the improvement enhances engine response to acceleration demands, resulting in an increase in average speed. The use of hydrogen as a combustion-enhancing agent contributes to optimizing engine response under high-load conditions, leading to a 4.50% increase in average speed and a 5.26% gain in productivity, expressed in tonnes per kilometer (t/km). From an environmental perspective, the technology aligns with decarbonization strategies within ESG frameworks adopted by major mining companies, which have established net-zero emissions targets between 2040 and 2050. It represents a relevant transitional solution for heavy-duty fleets, where full electrification still faces technical and economic constraints, enabling an annual reduction of approximately 19 tonnes of CO₂ per vehicle. 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
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