Trolleytruck

A trolleytruck (also known as a freight trolley or trolley truck) is a trolleybus-like vehicle used for carrying cargo instead of passengers. A trolleytruck is usually a type of electric truck powered by two overhead wires, from which it draws electricity using two trolley poles. In some languages, special terms exist, such as trolleyvoz (троллейвоз) in Russian or Oberleitungslastkraftwagen in German.

Two current collectors are required in order to supply and return current, because the return current cannot pass to the ground (as is done by streetcars on rails) since trolleytrucks use tires that are insulators. Lower-powered trucks tend to use trolley poles for current collection, while higher-powered trucks, such as those in large-scale construction or mining, may exceed the capacity of trolley poles and use pantographs instead.

Historically, trolleytrucks have seen use worldwide, particularly in the former Soviet Union. Today, they are still used for service roles in some cities in Russia and Ukraine, and as heavy-duty haulers in mines in North America and Africa. Because they draw power from the grid, trolleytrucks can use renewable energy. This has led to a modern revival of the concept in the form of "eHighways," where diesel–electric hybrid trucks use overhead lines on motorways to reduce emissions, with test projects underway in Sweden, Germany, and the United States.