Charged EVs | Wabtec and Roy Hill to introduce battery-electric heavy-haul freight locomotive

US locomotive and railcar producer Wabtec and Roy Hill, an Australian iron ore mining firm, just lately debuted the FLXdrive battery locomotive at Wabtec’s Pennsylvania design and growth middle.

The locomotive has an vitality capability of seven MWh and is predicted to offer a double-digit-percentage discount in gasoline prices and emissions per prepare. After closing battery set up and monitor testing, will probably be delivered to Roy Hill amenities within the Pilbara area of Western Australia.

At present, Roy Hill makes use of 4 Wabtec ES44ACi diesel-electric locomotives in a consist to drag trains which can be sometimes 1.6 miles in size and carry greater than 36,000 tons of iron ore. Including the FLXdrive will type a hybrid locomotive consist with the diesel-electrics and supply recharging via regenerative braking. The FLXdrive’s vitality administration software program is designed to regulate the general prepare vitality circulation and distribution, and its thermal administration system makes use of liquid cooling to face up to Pilbara temperatures that may attain 130° F.

“Through the use of regenerative braking, the FLXdrive will cost its battery on the 214-mile downhill run from our mine to the port facility and use that saved vitality to return to the mine, beginning the cycle once more. This is not going to solely allow us to comprehend vitality efficiencies but in addition decrease working prices,” mentioned Gerhard Veldsman, CEO of Group Operations at Hancock Prospecting, the bulk proprietor of Roy Hill.

Supply: Wabtec