NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Union Pacific and rail technology firm ZTR have concluded the first portion of the pilot program for their battery-diesel hybrid switching locomotives, the company said Friday, with the pilot remaining on track for completion in 2026.
The mother-slug set has completed initial testing and proof of concept at the Jenks Locomotive Shop in North Little Rock. Up next is testing in yard service.
The first of the switching sets, with converted SD40-2 No. UPY 409 and diesel UPY No. 309, was released in April 2024 [see “Union Pacific unveils …,” Trains News Wire, April 29, 2024]. Six of the sets, using energy control systems from ZTR, are planned under a program announced in 2022 [see “Union Pacific to partner …,” News Wire, Oct. 6, 2022]. They involve conversion of older, high-emission locomotive at the railroad’s shops in North Little Rock; the next set is expected to begin testing next year. The battery unit can either use plug-in power or be charged by the mother locomotive while in use.
UP says that the hybrids could reduce fuel use by up to 80%, depending on the mode of operation, reducing associated greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.
UP also released a short video updating the project.
Nice to see the UP “Wings” used on this glimpse into a possible future.
This could actually work and has the potential to be ridiculously efficient. If the engine is set up for maximum efficiency at full throttle and the T/Ms draw only from the battery then the engine could go from idle/off to full throttle only to charge the battery. Next: engineer a drop-in inverter/A/C-T/M kit for legacy locomotives.
UP is calling it a Battery-Electric Hybrid. The article is calling it a Battery-Diesel Hybrid. Since it’s a mother/calf setup, I think it should be called a Diesel-Battery-Electric Hybrid.
Of course, they meant “fossil” fuel use. But potential major demands on electric power usage in the next decade may do weird things to power prices. Such as in California.
Reduce fuel use by 80%? Sorry since when is electricity not a fuel in this context?
I assumed they meant diesel fuel.