We have written several posts about converting diesel-electric locos to battery-electric power. U.S. Department of Energy assures consumers the technology is feasible. Simply bypass the diesel with a battery tender behind the loco they say, and connect the electric motors. This would save energy and cut carbon emissions too. But there are more advantages to batteries in freight cars as we’ll explain in a moment.
What Else Could We Do With a Freight Car of Batteries?
There are several distinct possibilities when we have a battery tender hooked behind a modified diesel-electric loco. In the first instance, we could use the rechargeable batteries to power the freight train. But wait a moment, U.S. Department of Energy says. We also have a potentially modular battery pack here.
This means we could deploy the batteries anywhere there’s a railway nearby, and a situation experiencing a power outage. We could de-hitch the battery tender and ride away to fetch more. But how would the loco run without batteries you wonder. This is dead simple. Reconnect the old circuits and start the diesel!
Even More Advantages to Batteries in Freight Cars
Therefore to continue the logic, batteries in freight cars are actually dual fuel systems. This puts them streets ahead of overhead cables and power rails. However, the biggest benefit could be countering the effects of extreme weather conditions.
If the U.S. were to convert its entire freight rail sector, then this would generate about 220 gigawatt-hours of dual-fuel mobile storage. We link to an article below that explains ‘These battery tender cars could be deployed during extreme events.
‘Such as during the recent catastrophic wildfires in California, or the 2021 winter storm in Texas that left millions without access to electricity.’ While at the same time creating a new revenue stream for freight rail operators so it’s a winner all round.
Previous Posts
Battery Electric Freight Could Save 50% Energy
Rapid Conversion to Battery Freight is Feasible
Preview Image: Miike Railway’s Electric Locomotive
