Engineering:Alternative fuel locomotive
An alternative fuel locomotive refers to a locomotive that is not powered by oil or coal based fuels. In the 21st century, a variety of technologies are being experimentally tried as alternative fuels, including hydrogen, liquified natural gas, and compressed natural gas.[1]
Types
Hydrogen
In the United States, BNSF Railway tested a hydrogen powered switcher locomotive in 2008 and 2009, in partnership with the United States Army.[2]
Battery electric
Several railroads have tested battery electric locomotives, which operate based on rechargeable batteries and have zero greenhouse gas emissions.[2] Compared to conventional diesel locomotives, battery electric locomotives are quieter and cleaner, but require charging stations to support their use.[3] At least one instance of a battery electric locomotive, for the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad, was funded by a state government grant supporting improvements to air quality.[3] As of 2022, battery electric locomotives are only a small part of the locomotive fleet in North America, which numbers approximately 39,000.[3]
See also
- List of low-emissions locomotives
References
- ↑ "Liquid and Compressed Natural Gas as Locomotive Fuels". https://railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.dot.gov/files/fra_net/18511/Liquid%20and%20Compressed%20Natural%20Gas%20and%20Locomotive%20Fuels%20brochure.pdf.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cleveland, Michael (March 27, 2019). "BNSF's Alternative Fuels". https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/04/f62/fcto-h2-at-rail-workshop-2019-cleveland.pdf.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Litvak, Anya (February 3, 2022). "On track for a zero-carbon locomotive, Wabtec is on step 2". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. https://www.post-gazette.com/business/tech-news/2022/02/03/zero-carbon-locomotive-Wabtec-FLXdrive-battery-electric-GM-Biden/stories/202202030025.
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