Electric mining shovels are engineering vehicles used for the excavation and removal of overburden and ore in open-cut surface mining operations. These electric power shovels are the modern equivalent of steam shovels and operate in a similar fashion.

The mining shovels have five major components - 

• a revolving deck with a power plant

• a front boom or crane which supports a handle with a dipper/bucket at the end

• a base platform with tracks or wheels 

• a driving and control system 

• and usually a counterweight. 

The shovel electric systems (with multiple electric motors for hoist, swing, crowd, and propel) have power requirements as high as 3750 kVA . 

These shovels are the work horses in modern surface mining around the world.