The world’s first battery electric freight train is going to be showcased in a new event throughout Pittsburgh. On the successful launch of this locomotive, we could see dramatic reductions in carbon emissions and a rail transport alternative that could reduce carbon emissions nationwide.
The rail industry is one of the leading polluters in the world and there is no signs of this slowing down any time soon. The new battery electric freight train could assist in moving 1.7 billion tones of goods across the American railroad system each year. The 75 ft long train is going to be powered by a series of 500 lithium ion battery modules which can cut fuel consumption considerably. The goal is to have the train running commercially in the next few years and hauling the majority of our US freight in the coming years.
The technology was not deemed suitable in previous years but low emissions and battery electric locomotives have been made possible thanks to improved computing, battery capacity and reduced costs. In the year 2018, the plans for the train were created and the launch of the worlds first battery operated train is set to take place in the USA very soon. Heavy haul freight is a huge polluter in the USA and with this improved technology we can finally have an alternative to diesel and a solution that is going to offer something for targeting carbon emissions in the rail industry.
If you would like to learn more about the future of battery operated trains, be sure to stay tuned to our blog for future posts on electric rail and battery powered freight projects worldwide.
For nearly half a century, Swartz Engineering has been at the forefront of industry safety. They are a family-owned company specializing in power distribution for the electrical industry. They are the leading E House Manufacturers USA. It is the most widely accepted protective overcurrent device used in the transit industry today.
