GE Launches Hybrid Road Locomotive

GE Transportation, a unit of the General Electric Company, earlier announced the launch of its cutting-edge hybrid road locomotive at its Ecomagination event in Los Angeles. GE’s Evolution Hybrid locomotive will be unveiled today at LA’s historic Union Station to show the progress of the company in developing a freight hybrid locomotive that is capable of recycling thermal energy as stored power in on-board batteries.

This demonstration hybrid unit will be one of the highlights at the Ecomagination event. The event will feature sophisticated technologies that are developed and used in the rail industry to cut smog-causing emissions, including Nitrous Oxide emissions, and particulate matter. Ecomagination is GE’s initiative to bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet their most imperative environmental challenges. These technologies are manufactured to rival APC cold air intake, filters, engines and other prominent auto parts and equipment.

“This hybrid demonstration unit is another example of our commitment to invest in technology and bring new, innovative concepts to life,” said John M. Dineen, the President and CEO of GE Transportation. “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 Evolution Hybrid diesel-electric prototype features a bunch of innovative batteries that will capture and store energy dissipated during dynamic braking. The energy stored in the batteries will reduce fuel consumption and emissions by as much as 10 percent compared to most of the freight locomotives in use today. The 4,400 horsepower hybrid operates more proficiently in higher altitudes and up steep inclines.

BSNF, Union Pacific and other GE enthusiasts are helping the advisory board of the company to develop the striking hybrid. "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," said Matthew K. Rose, chairman, the president and chief executive officer, BNSF Railway Company.

“Union Pacific is developing and investing in new technologies that provide for cleaner air, including a locomotive fleet that's the greenest in the industry," said Jim Young, the Chairman and CEO, Union Pacific. "We congratulate GE on working toward developing a hybrid locomotive and applaud innovation from suppliers that can support our leadership in caring for the environment while delivering the goods that America needs.”

Steve Gray, GE Transportation’s Engineering Leader, has this to say: “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.”