As reported by Transportation Evolved & BusinessWire, the World's first battery locomotive has its debut at Wabtec, ERIE, Pa. The FLXdrive locomotive is described as a heavy-haul locomotive. AND it must be, with a batterypack capacity of 7 Megawatt-hrs. Australia's Roy Hill & "the country's most successful private company", Hancock Prospecting, is the first customer. Once final installations & testings are complete, the locomotive will make the 10,500 mile journey to Pilbara, west Australia, in 2024, to be used in one of the World's best mining districts. Supposedly, "double-digit" reductions in fuel costs & emissions are expected!
Since there are tracks and not random roads, I wonder what the long term cost comparison would be versus running power lines for the rail, especially when more locomotives would further affect the cost curves. There must be a specific couple hundred miles (if that?) of track for which this locomotive is intended, or maybe other factors.
You observe correctly. From the higher elevation mining site, the rail-line descends to the refining site. Therefore, the weight of the ores themselves, as the ore-laden train descends, will help (or fully?) recharge the batteries. It would appear that all is solved……except for one disastrous fact. The mining site has summer temperatures that can reach (or nearly so) 130degF. I would consider battery pack performance to ultimately be challenged in such heat. With all that metal (not just the ores), at least, spot temperatures should soar to levels that could (should?) cripple the pack, despite the vigorous locomotive cooling systems. I believe the company tho, does have diesel-electric locomotives that might have better functioning capabilities in such heat. I would think that contact with Formula E racing establishments, which do race in very hot environments, should be contacted for their expertise.
If extreme heat is a problem, maybe a different type of battery would work, something like molten salt batteries.
