On the downhill section, the electric locomotive can generate up to 60 percent of the required energy itself.
You could argue that virtually every conventional locomotive today is an electric locomotive. While many get their electrical energy from overhead lines, this locomotive relies on integrated batteries with a massive capacity of 14.5 MWh.
The electric locomotive is manufactured by Progress Rail *$CAT (+0,81%) in Brazil. They are used by the mining company Fortescue *$FMG (+0,19%) in Australia. There they transport iron ore from the mines in the Pilbara region to the ports in Western Australia.
Until recently, diesel locomotives pulled the heavily loaded freight trains. In June, an electric locomotive was used for the first time. Now a 2nd battery electric locomotive (BELs) has been put into service. Fortescue wants to reduce its emissions and work more cost-efficiently.
Electric locomotive recovers energy
The mining company benefits from the topography of the region. The mines are significantly higher than the ports at sea level. This means that most of the loaded trains travel downhill. As a result, the electric locomotives could generate between 40 and 60 percent of the energy they need themselves through regenerative braking when traveling downhill, writes Fortescue in a post.
Although the route back to the mines is uphill, the trains are empty and therefore significantly lighter. According to Fortescue, the energy that the locomotives cannot produce themselves comes from renewable sources.
The use of electric locomotives should also simplify the operation of the trains, they say. This is because the time-consuming handling of diesel and the associated maintenance is no longer necessary.
Progress Rail, a subsidiary of Caterpillar, is one of the world's largest suppliers of rail technology, infrastructure solutions and locomotives (EMD brand). The company develops diesel locomotives, rail infrastructure, braking systems, signaling technology and recycling services. The focus is on increasing efficiency and developing emission-free drives.
This battery train generates its own electricity
https://www.elektroauto-news.net/news/infinity-train-batterie-lok-fortescue
