GE Introduces First Hybrid Road Locomotive
Multinational American technology and services conglomerate General Electric (GE) announced recently that they have developed the first ever hybrid road locomotive. The said engineering feat is part of the company's "Ecomagination" event held in Los Angeles, California. The said initiative is an attempt to give the company a reputation of being a "green" company". The hybrid road locomotive will be unveiled at the Union Station in the City of Angels.
The development of the road locomotive is aimed to show the potential of the company to produce technologies which will reduce the release of harmful substances into the environment. Some of these harmful substances that GE aims to eliminate or reduce from road locomotives are nitrous oxide and other particulate matters.
John M. Dineen, the President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Transportation, which is formerly known as GE Rail, has this to say after announcing the unveiling of the hybrid road locomotive: "This hybrid demonstration unit is another example of our commitment to invest in technology and bring new, innovative concepts to life. We will continue to support Ecomagination by engineering product offerings that help customers improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and sustain a long life of reliable service."
The said hybrid vehicle is equipped with a powertrain which can produce as much as 4,400 horsepower. Similar to a gas-electric hybrid vehicle, the road locomotive is also equipped with a set of battery pack. But unlike a small hybrid car, the locomotive cannot be covered with a LeBra car cover. The design of the hybrid road locomotive also allows the batteries to be charged during braking. Like the regenerative braking system used by hybrid cars such as the Toyota Prius, the hybrid road locomotive uses the energy produced during braking to recharge its batteries. According to the calculation of GE Transportation, the power stored in the road locomotive's battery pack can reduce fuel consumption by as much as ten percent.
Steve Gray, the GE Transportation Engineering Leader, extolled the virtues of the Evolution® Hybrid saying: "This locomotive will reduce emissions while providing operating benefits to our customers that transport consumer goods and other raw materials by recapturing the energy wasted during train braking. As we work toward bringing the Evolution® Hybrid locomotive to commercial production, our engineers will use this locomotive as a living lab working with our customers to test, study, and refine our hybrid locomotive technology."
In developing the hybrid road locomotive, GE partnered with BNSF. The railway company has helped GE in developing the hybrid powertrain for the vehicle. Mathew K. Rose, the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of BNSF Railway Company has this to say: "BNSF is committed to helping develop new technologies that benefit our operations as well as the environment. We are proud to be partners with GE on the development of the hybrid locomotive, alternative fuel research and the testing of other technologies that optimize the performance of our locomotive fleets."
