As announced by Aurizon on 30 May 2023, the biggest Australian rail freight operator will commence the development of the first zero-emission locomotive built in Australia. For this project, it has partnered with Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company.
The prototype will be a retrofitted Class 4000, currently one of 120 Aurizon-owned diesel locomotives. The plan is to replace diesel power with batteries, including regenerative braking power capture.
The battery-electric locomotive (BEL) prototype, currently in the designing and preliminary work phase, is being built at Progress Rail’s Redbank facility in Queensland. Aurizon also cooperates with Queensland universities on this project for modelling work and research on emerging battery technology, network infrastructure and charging facilities.
After stripping the inside of the existing locomotive and removing the diesel engine, fuel tank, radiators, alternator, traction converters and other components, the new components will be installed: Lithium-ion battery packs, control system inverters for each axle, and air compressor. Drivers’ cab, chassis, bogies and traction motors will remain the same as on the current Class 4000 locomotives. The BEL will have 4.5 MWh of battery capacity.
The first locomotive is expected to be completed at the beginning of 2025, with real testing on tracks to start by mid-2025.
BEL should be Aurizon’s platform for zero-emission locomotives, and the operator recognizes various needs across its network. That is why three BEL versions are planned:
- Up to 400 km – BEL
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Up to 850 km – BEL + BET, meaning a battery locomotive with an extra battery wagon
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Over 850 km – BEL + HET, meaning a battery locomotive with a hydrogen fuel cell on a wagon
