The interest in the Wabtec FLXdrive battery locomotives is growing

It was Rio Tinto, one of the largest mining companies in the world, that expressed the use of Wabtec FLXdrive battery locomotives, which resulted in the order of as many as four of them. All this to achieve the planned 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.

Mining giant turns to Wabtec FLXdrive battery locomotives in its own quest to reduce emissions

The first-generation FLXdrive is the world’s first heavy-duty electric locomotive. Its 4,400 horsepower motor system draws energy from approximately 18,000 lithium-ion cells with a total capacity of 2.4 megawatt hours to drive all four wheels. However, it most likely won’t apply to an order from Rio Tinto, which most likely includes newer versions of FLXdrive.

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Officially, nothing is known about this, but we know that Wabtec is already working on improved prototypes with as much as 7 MWh of energy. It is hard not to guess that they will be part of the order, the implementation of which is planned for 2023, although of course these are just guesses. It is only certain that electric locomotives will replace those powered by diesel, and Wabtec will additionally support Rio Tinto in their operation and optimization.