Could battery-electric locomotives become mainstream?

Within the institute, Wabtec is proposing establishing “centers of excellence” for “green power, advanced network logistics and capacity,” according to Santana. The institute would promote R&D and manufacturing opportunities within the U.S. on areas such as zero-emission locomotives powered by battery and hydrogen fuel cells and on-site hydrogen generation solutions.

“It will further develop research priorities, conduct research, development and testing and foster collaboration and action between stakeholders to ensure the U.S. maintains its competitive edge and global leadership in creating the freight rail network of the future,” Santana said.

The objectives of collaborators Wabtec, G&W and Carnegie Mellon are outlined in their “Freight 2030” vision statement, which calls for the public-private partnership as well as for the expansion of freight rail utilization through technology and the utilization of battery and hydrogen-powered locomotives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The group also estimates that 250,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs could be spurred in the transportation and manufacturing sectors through these efforts. 

“With climate change as one of our nation’s greatest challenges, the time to shift to rail is now. For example, if we increased utilization of rail by 50% for the movement of freight over 500 miles, we can reduce 60 million tons of GHG emissions per year. That is like taking 13 million cars off the road. If the U.S. wants to lead the world in decarbonizing the transportation sector, it should look no further than freight rail technologies and innovation,” Santana said. 

For its part, Wabtec is working with BNSF (NYSE: BRK) and the California Air Resources Board to conduct advanced testing on the newly developed FLXdrive locomotive. The FLXdrive is a heavy-haul battery-electric locomotive, and the three have been conducting tests on track between Barstow and Stockton, California.

“Wabtec has a clear path to power new locomotives — and repower existing locomotives — with batteries, hydrogen internal combustion engines and hydrogen fuel cells. … We are testing and deploying our battery-electric locomotive and plan to commercialize it in the near future,” Santana said. “We are currently researching applicability of battery-hybrid and hydrogen combustion engines and hope to begin development and testing of those technologies quickly.”

Others within the freight rail industry are exploring the use of alternatively powered locomotives. In a separate and unrated announcement last week, Canadian Pacific (NYSE: CP) said it would be using fuel cell modules manufactured by Ballard Power to provide electric power to CP’s hydrogen-powered linehaul freight locomotive. The fuel cells will work with battery technology to power the locomotive’s electric traction motors, CP said.

“Maximizing the freight rail network and shifting to clean power requires upfront intellectual firepower and capital investment,” Santana said. “Wabtec and our partners are prepared to invest in the Freight Rail Innovation Institute alongside the U.S. government and ask for your support in creating a clean energy future together. Let’s start building America’s freight rail of tomorrow today.”

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