Union Pacific announced Friday it will spend $100 million to buy 20 battery-electric engines and update its infrastructure to accommodate them.In a news release, the company said the investment is “the largest investment in battery-electric technology” by a major railroad.UP plans to test the locomotives at rail yards in Nebraska and California, to study their performance in both warm and cold weather. The company said that will allow it to determine how the technology can be deployed across the railroad’s 32,000 miles of track stretching from the central U.S. to the west coast.The railroad currently relies on about 7,600 diesel-powered locomotives to move freight through its network.”We’re committed to actions that reduce Union Pacific’s environmental footprint as we work toward our ultimate goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050,” CEO Lance Fritz said in a statement. “These investments will contribute to further developing this important technology and providing industry-wide benefits.”Union Pacific said the first units will arrive in 2023, with a full delivery in 2024. Progress Rail, a division of Caterpillar, will manufacture some of the locomotives. Pittsburgh-based Wabtec will make the others.President Biden touted the investment at an infrastructure event in that city Friday.The announcement from UP comes just one month after the company revealed its first climate action plan to shareholders.Early estimates by the railroad show deploying 10 battery-electric locomotives can eliminate 4,000 tons of carbon pollution. The company said that’s the equivalent of removing 800 cars from the highway.
Union Pacific announced Friday it will spend $100 million to buy 20 battery-electric engines and update its infrastructure to accommodate them.
In a news release, the company said the investment is “the largest investment in battery-electric technology” by a major railroad.
UP plans to test the locomotives at rail yards in Nebraska and California, to study their performance in both warm and cold weather. The company said that will allow it to determine how the technology can be deployed across the railroad’s 32,000 miles of track stretching from the central U.S. to the west coast.
The railroad currently relies on about 7,600 diesel-powered locomotives to move freight through its network.
“We’re committed to actions that reduce Union Pacific’s environmental footprint as we work toward our ultimate goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050,” CEO Lance Fritz said in a statement. “These investments will contribute to further developing this important technology and providing industry-wide benefits.”
Union Pacific said the first units will arrive in 2023, with a full delivery in 2024. Progress Rail, a division of Caterpillar, will manufacture some of the locomotives. Pittsburgh-based Wabtec will make the others.
President Biden touted the investment at an infrastructure event in that city Friday.
The announcement from UP comes just one month after the company revealed its first climate action plan to shareholders.
Early estimates by the railroad show deploying 10 battery-electric locomotives can eliminate 4,000 tons of carbon pollution. The company said that’s the equivalent of removing 800 cars from the highway.