World's Largest Battery-Powered Locomotives Launched By Progress Rail

By Srikanto Mandal 30 Sept, 2022

[{"selector":"#anim-54490a66-ec9a-4d48-83ac-7bc59fca065f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(36.948529245614246%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e733515-6b19-4f28-ad7b-7f83a07dc69a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d1f314a8-9a67-46c1-b04c-582399323179","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 223.39182%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Caterpillar subsidiary Progress Rail launched the first battery-powered EMD locomotives in North American rail operations. Photo: Progressrail/Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-f5a7e169-1996-420f-8e92-db8b9777c2f5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6aac77e-4537-4f3e-876a-426a2daf93ed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-baa0bf76-eb14-441e-8a7d-20744fcdee43","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 202.95261%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The EMD Joule locomotives are powered by onboard batteries, a departure from traditional electric locomotives that rely on external power sources like overhead lines. Photo: Progressrail/Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-9fb27c65-1340-4b00-ad47-ca97a4577dda [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.2109373859887%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f606435-2b46-4b96-940e-9cbd2a1efe1d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-354f412f-d965-4626-8585-8d20e1872991","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 217.93983%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The SD70J-BB is the largest and heaviest battery-powered vehicles in production, weighing a staggering 540,000 pounds. Photo: Progressrail/Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-d98ed1c5-2d58-4115-b8ee-82fe984b13e2 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.249999886225726%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f14ec485-9e29-41c7-9c19-2737bd02bcec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5ae0f72-3507-4fea-802a-829f84ca83c2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 217.93983%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The battery capacity of Joule locomotives ranges from 2.4 megawatt-hours to 14.5 megawatt-hours. Photo: Progressrail/Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-b05238e3-e846-4d6c-93cc-103b6c6a7902 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.24839265151685%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db20fd93-72ff-4bd7-9415-e071081b95cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8485abbe-bcea-4025-a4b6-ad75131f0361","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 211.11117%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Progress Rail's "reverse pantograph" system allows the locomotives to park under a charger for efficient battery replenishment.

[{"selector":"#anim-9f72767c-693d-4074-9034-d3574512af68 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.319962573217424%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-977f8712-338e-4938-919a-3cf4bf7ed8b7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a649590-b434-40f1-a44e-23bff8b39b94","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.98508%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The charging process for these locomotives involves a 500kw charger, capable of fully charging a locomotive in four hours.

[{"selector":"#anim-b12d291f-3ff1-4feb-a2da-d750ee19d357 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.2109373859887%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4030bc0b-9dc1-44ad-81c0-c996a96982ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20428319-f00b-432e-99ec-79d8a95c9f72","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 211.11117%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The initial models, such as the SD40JR, are intended for local switching duty within rail yards, emphasizing their use in short-distance operations.

[{"selector":"#anim-815e96b7-6e8d-4ec3-88cb-37f96168d615 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(16.135870547950002%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0969fdb9-ad45-49c9-8f0f-984122db8e89","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-abdef6b3-f3ff-46b2-a1e7-44935c88ab33","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 204.39816%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The SD70J has a top speed of 75 miles per hour, while other models in the line reach 50 miles per hour.

[{"selector":"#anim-38fa6243-cd90-4090-8c00-bb50e9767920 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(29.779411746193436%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a7be3a53-c78f-4b02-9484-29b956d412a1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5fb314eb-52a1-477c-b3df-696add96f8b0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 151.90366%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The weight and battery capacity of the SD70J-BB are contrasted with the automotive world, with its battery capacity being over 72 times that of the battery in Cadillac's IQ EV.