Wabtec and Roy Hill unveil first FLXdrive battery locomotive

Wabtec and Australian iron ore miner Roy Hill have marked the debut of the FLXdrive battery locomotive, the world's first 100% battery-powered, heavy-haul locomotive for mainline service – and have used the opportunity to support the fight against breast cancer.

The company and its customer unveiled the pink locomotive at a ceremony at Wabtec's design and development centre in Pennsylvania, USA, attended by employees, customer executives, and government and community officials.

Roy Hill's FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive will have an energy capacity of seven megawatt hours (MWh). Based on the route and company's rail operations, the FLXdrive is expected to reduce fuel costs and emissions by more than ten per cent.

Next, Wabtec will finish installing the battery and test the vehicle on the track. Then, the locomotive will travel seventeen thousand kilometres (ten-and-a-half thousand miles) to its new home in the mining district of Pilbara in Western Australia.

Roy Hill currently uses four Wabtec ES44ACi Evolution Series diesel-electric locomotives. They work in a consist, pulling trains around 2,700 meters (2.7 kilometres or 1.6 miles) long, carrying more than thirty-three thousand tonnes of iron ore. The new FLXdrive will work with the Wabtec diesel-electric locomotives in a hybrid consist, recharging during the journey by means of regenerative braking.

The FLXdrive manages the overall energy flow and distribution of the train, using its state-of-the-art energy management software. The vehicle has a battery thermal management system which uses liquid cooling to withstand the heat in Pilbara, where ambient temperatures can exceed 55°C (131°F).

Roy Hill explains that its “iconic” pink livery symbolises its commitment to assisting research into and support for those affected by breast cancer. To mark the FLXdrive's premiere, Roy Hill, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Wabtec donated fifty thousand US dollars to Linked By Pink, a non-profit organisation of Erie area survivors diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 45.

Over three thousand people die from breast cancer each year in Australia, around 98% of them women.

Rafael Santana, President & CEO of Wabtec, said, “This FLXdrive locomotive represents a major step in the journey to a low-to-zero-emission future in the rail industry. The FLXdrive is driven from within by our battery technology and the innovative spirit of our employees. Roy Hill is an ideal customer to partner with given their leadership and excellent operational record.”

Gerhard Veldsman, Chief Executive Officer, of Hancock Prospecting Group Operations, the majority owner of Roy Hill, said, “The foresight of our Executive Chairman, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO, has been instrumental in establishing an environment in which we can successfully leverage the ingenuity of our people alongside key partners like Wabtec to transform our rail and mining operations through next generation technologies.”

“The FLXdrive locomotive represents not only a first for the Pilbara, but a first for the mining industry. The technological smarts that have gone into the development of the loco makes it well suited for our rail network. By using regenerative braking, it will charge its battery on the 344 kilometers (214 miles) downhill run from our mine to port facility and use that stored energy to return to the mine, starting the cycle all over again. This will not only enable us to realise energy efficiencies but also lower operating costs.”