Union Pacific Railroad has received the first two of four FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives from Wabtec. They will be tested in yard switching and local customer service to gather data on performance, reliability and operational capability.
Union Pacific Railroad has announced the arrival of two battery-electric locomotives in Southern California, as part of its investment in testing next-generation technologies in real-world operating environments.
The units are the first of four FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives built by Wabtec and ordered by Union Pacific. Two additional locomotives are scheduled to arrive in October, completing the four-unit fleet that will operate in the greater Los Angeles area.
Testing in switching and local service
The FLXdrive, which is powered by approximately 7,000 battery cells, will undergo testing in a variety of railroad operations, including switching and providing local customer service. Union Pacific said operating in a busy rail yard will give it data on the technology’s performance, reliability and operational capabilities.
Each locomotive provides roughly 2.7 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage and produces zero tailpipe emissions during operation.
“Union Pacific has never been content to stand still. Our industry is constantly evolving, and if we’re not exploring what’s next, we risk being left behind,” said Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena. “Testing technologies like battery-electric locomotives help us to better understand what’s possible by putting these emerging technologies to work in actual railroad operations.”
Testing technologies like battery-electric locomotives help us to better understand what’s possible by putting these emerging technologies to work in actual railroad operations.”
Wabtec’s role and efficiency aims
“This milestone reflects Wabtec’s shared commitment with Union Pacific to advancing the future of freight rail,” said Rafael Santana, Wabtec’s chairman and CEO. “By deploying FLXdrive in daily operations, we’re building real-world insights needed to refine and scale battery-electric technology, delivering best-in-class value for our customers.”
Union Pacific said its evaluation builds on its investment in modernising operations, improving efficiency and advancing technologies that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It added that rail is the most fuel efficient way to move freight over land, transporting one ton nearly 500 miles on a single gallon of fuel.
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