The combined purchases and upgrades to yard infrastructure are expected to exceed US$100m. Ten locomotives will be acquired from Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, and ten from Wabtec Corporation, and together they will form the world’s largest carrier-owned battery-electric locomotive fleet in freight service.
Union Pacific anticipates the first units will arrive on site in late 2023 with complete delivery by late 2024. The locomotives will be used in rail yards in California and Nebraska, where they will be tested for performance in cold and warm weather, helping identify the locomotives’ capabilities and challenges for broader deployment.
“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,” said Lance Fritz, chairman, president and CEO of Union Pacific. “These investments will contribute to further developing this important technology and providing industry-wide benefits.”
For every 10 battery-electric locomotives used, approximately 4,000 tons of carbon will be eliminated annually, the equivalent of removing 800 cars from the highway, according to Union Pacific.
The Wabtec locomotives will be the 2.5-MWh FLXdrive battery-electric locomotives, which are each powered solely by 7,000 battery cells. Meanwhile, Progress Rail will supply its EMD Joule locomotives to Union Pacific.
Union Pacific published its first comprehensive Climate Action Plan in December 2021, outlining its efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within its operations. As part of that commitment, Union Pacific will reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 26% by 2030 and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
As it works toward its goals, Union Pacific is collaborating with community partners. The Port of Los Angeles, which recently received a Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency, awarded Union Pacific a sub-award that will partially cover the cost of one battery-electric locomotive.
“Our work with the Port of Los Angeles will help us cut emissions in the South Coast Air Basin, which includes four counties in Southern California,” said Beth Whited, executive vice president and chief human resource officer, who oversees Union Pacific’s ESG efforts. “This work also will help our customers realize the benefit of moving goods by rail, reducing emissions by up to 75%.”
Watch US President Joe Biden’s official announcement of the Union Pacific project here: