Comparative performance study of diesel and electric face-haulage vehicles

Results of a performance study of diesel ram-dump cars and electric cable-reel shuttle cars, conducted at an underground coal mine in the Warrior Basin of Alabama, are presented. Time-study data, obtained over a one-year period, show that the average load and discharge times of the diesel cars are slightly less than those of the electric cars, while the average travel-loaded, travel-empty, in, and out speeds of the diesel cars are slightly greater. Computer simulations, based on frequency distributions from the cycle-time data, show average shift productions for both vehicle types to be very close for two-car and three-car configurations with a haul distance of two crosscuts. However, as the haul distance increases, the diesel cars outproduce the electric cars. Results of a maintenance-cost comparison are presented for the sake of general interest and should not be considered as valid comparison, since the electric cars are approximately three years older than the diesel cars. The results show preventive maintenance costs to be much greater for a diesel car on both permonth and per-ton bases, and the total maintenance cost for a diesel car to be significantly higher on a permonth basis, but significantly less on a per-ton basis.