BHP Western Australia Iron Ore has placed orders for battery-electric locomotives from both Wabtec and Progress Rail, becoming the first company to order battery-electric units from both major North American manufacturers.
BHP will purchase two of Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives, becoming the second Australian firm in a week and third overall to purchase those units, and of Progress Rail’s EMD Joule locomotives. It is the second Australian customer for the Joule in less than two weeks.
The six-axle FLXdrive units have a planned energy capacity of 7 megawatt-hours. The eight-axle Joule locomotives will have a capacity of 14.5 megawatt-hours.
“The FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive represents the future of sustainable rail operations,” Rogerio Mendonca, president of freight equipment for Wabtec, said in a press release. “The rail and mining industries are on the cusp of technological advancements to equip customers with zero-emission locomotive fleets. The FLXdrive is a major step toward eventually achieving that vision. It will provide BHP with the tractive effort, fuel savings, emissions reductions and reliability to cost effectively run their rail operations.”
BHP currently uses four diesel-electric locomotives to move 270-car, 38,000-ton ore trains. The addition of the battery-electric units units will create a hybrid consist; Wabtec says its locomotives are anticipated to save those consists 10% or more in fuel costs and emissions.
“We are excited to support BHP with our EMD Joule locomotives for deployment on its Pilbara railway,” Progress Rail CEO Marty Hayfield said. “Equipped with the latest technology, our … locomotives provide optimal levels of energy regeneration and will play a pivotal role in helping BHP reach its sustainability goals.”
Brandon Craig, BHP Asset president Western Australia Iron Ore, said he is pleased his company “can play a leading role in helping to develop new and innovative solutions with potential to shape our business for a cleaner future. Rail is the fundamental link in our pit-to-port value chain, and the power required to deliver fully-laden iron ore wagons from the Pilbara to Port Hedland is significant. Trialing battery-electric locomotives in collaboration with Progress Rail and Wabtec has great potential to support our operational emissions reductions targets and goals.”
The BHP order for Wabtec comes after Rio Tinto placed an order for four of the FLXdrive locomotives for its Western Australia operation earlier this month [see “Second Australian firm orders Wabtec battery-electric locomotives,” Trains News Wire, Jan. 11, 2022]. Another mining-railroad operator in the Pilbara region, Roy Hill, ordered one of the locomotives last fall [see “Australian mining firm is first buyer …,” News Wire, Sept. 13, 2021].
Fortescue Metals Group announced its purchase of two EMD Joule locomotives earlier this month [see “FMG purchases battery-electric locomotives from Progress Rail,” News Wire, Jan. 7, 2022]. Those locomotives, to be designated as model BE14.5BB, are to be built at Progress Rail’s plant in Sete Logas, Brazil. In the U.S., Pacific Harbor Line is set to begin testing a six-axle, 2.4 megawatt-hour Joule locomotive soon [see “Pacific Harbor Line to test …,” News Wire, Nov. 13, 2020].
Can the diesel locs recharge the battery motors on lighter grades?
How will these battery powered locomotives affect the builders ability to build tier 4 credit units? Do they count towards the emissions credits?