OMAHA — Union Pacific, which has already made the biggest commitment to battery-electric locomotives of any North American Class I railroad, is taking another big step into alternative forms of motive power.
The company announced today (Thursday, Oct. 6) that it will partner with green technology firm ZTR to build hybrid-electric locomotives at its North Little Rock, Ark., shops. The prototype unit is expected to be delivered in late 2023 with five more locomotives constructed in 2024.
The hybrids, like a plug-in hybrid automobile, will offer multiple modes of operation and be able to charge onboard batteries in several ways, including wayside and onboard charging. They are planned to operate in mother-slug sets, with a diesel locomotive connected to a slug unit equipped with batteries, electronics, and controls supplied by ZTR.
“Adding hybrid-electric locomotives to our fleet is another important step for Union Pacific as we work to explore ‘drop-in’ technologies that modify current systems and reduce our carbon footprint,” Shane Keller, Union Pacific senior vice president of engineering and mechanical, said in a press release. “This pilot will help make our fleet more fuel efficient and further advance our commitment to reaching our sustainability goals, while testing the technology’s capability for expanded use across our locomotive fleet.”
The new locomotives — to be converted from older, higher-emission units — will be used chiefly in yard operations, with the mother-slug configuration increasing the traction motors available for the pulling and braking power needed for such work. UP already uses more than 65 mother-slug sets with ZTR technology in yards across its system.
“ZTR is proud of our long-standing relationship with Union Pacific and excited to partner with them on this hybrid-electric locomotive development,” said ZTR Control Systems President Derek Shipley. “This investment aligns well with our ongoing goal to leverage ZTR’s technical expertise to support railways in their decarbonization and efficiency improvement efforts. This initial hybrid-electric mother-slug application will be the basis of our design for future hybrid-electric, long-haul and fully electric solutions.”
UP has previously ordered 20 battery-electric locomotives for yard service — 10 from Wabtec and 10 from Progress Rail [see “Union Pacific orders …,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 28, 2022]. Those locomotives will be tested in North Platte, Neb., and in the Los Angeles basin. UP did not immediately indicate where the newly announced units might be used.
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