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BNSF Railway will test battery-electric locomotives in its Southern California rail yards.
Built by Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company, the EMD Joule electric locomotives do not use diesel fuel and emit zero exhaust emissions.
Scheduled for delivery in 2024, Progress Rail will supply up to four EMD Joule battery electric locomotives to BNSF.
“The EMD Joule is a switcher locomotive meant for railyards not long distance hauling, and the environmentally friendly locomotive could help BNSF reduce emissions at locations in California. BNSF has faced stiff opposition to its proposed rail yard near the Port of Los Angeles by environmental groups that say it would increase pollution in West Long Beach.
The Joule locomotive is an exciting advancement in battery-electric locomotive technology with more energy storage and faster charging,” BNSF’s Vice President of Environment and Sustainability John Lovenburg said. “The project is well aligned with BNSF’s commitment to innovation and leadership in sustainable freight. We are focused on continuing to reduce the environmental impact in the communities where we operate and proud to do our part to assess the commercial and operational viability of emerging technologies that reduce emissions.”
Caterpillar’s Progress Rail is one of the largest integrated and diversified providers of rolling stock and infrastructure solutions and technologies for global rail customers.
© 2022 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.