BHP Group Orders Battery-Electric Locomotives From Wabtec

[mahatmakanejeeves]

January 18, 2022 | Class I, Freight, Locomotives, Mechanical, News, Short Lines & Regionals

BHP Group Orders Battery-Electric Locomotives From Wabtec

Written by Richard Clinnick, Associate Editor, International Railway Journal



A third order for FLXdrive battery locomotives has been placed with Wabtec from an Australian operator. (Wabtec Photograph)

This is the third order to be placed by an Australian freight company for battery-electric locomotives.

BHP subsidiary Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) has ordered two FLXdrive battery-electric units from Wabtec, with delivery planned for 2023.

The 7MW units, which are entirely battery-powered, are expected to reduce WAIO’s fuel costs and emissions by a double-digit percentage per train due to the topography of the Pilbara-Port Hedland route on which they will operate.

Currently, four diesel-electric locomotives in a consist are used to haul 38,000-ton trains consisting of 270 iron-ore railcars. The FLXdrive units will be formed in the consist and will recharge during the journey through regenerative braking. Wabtec’s Trip Optimizer technology will be installed on the locomotives and will determine the optimal times to discharge and recharge the batteries along the route to ensure the most fuel-efficient operation of the entire locomotive consist.

Wabtec is also constructing four FLXdrive locomotives for Rio Tinto and one for Roy Hill in Australia, as well as one unit for CN for use on the Bessemer & Lake Erie portion of its network in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Wabtec and Genesee & Wyoming recently embraced on a joint venture in association with Carnegie-Mellon University.

Categories: Class I, Freight, Locomotives, Mechanical, News, Short Lines & Regionals
Tags: Bessemer & Lake Erie, BHP Group, Breaking News, Canadian National, Rio Tinto, Roy Hill, Wabtec, Western Australia Iron Ore

[eppur_se_muova]

1. More on Wabtec's battery electric freight loco, developed in coop'n w/CA Air Resource Board

https://www.wabteccorp.com/locomotive/alternative-fuel-locomotives/flxdrive

[Finishline42]

2. makes sense

Assuming that the mine is at a higher altitude than where they ship it from (sea level). Recharge the batteries when loaded on the way to the port then use the battery power to return the train empty to the mine.

I assume when they made a point about the the topography that there isn't a lot of up and down during the trip to port.

Trains are amazingly efficient on level ground.