| GE Evolution Hybrid: Regenerative Braking! |
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| Written by Joshua Liberles | |||||||||
| Sunday, 09 December 2007 | |||||||||
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General Electric is introducing a new Hybrid Locomotive as part of the company's ecomagination campaign. Hybrid locomitves combining diesel with electric power is nothing new. It's the ability of these engines to harness the energy typically wasted as heat during braking that represents a significant step forward. Regenerative braking, similar to the method used in a Toyota Prius, would represent significant energy savings. According to GE, the energy wasted during braking for a 207-ton locomotive over the course of one year is enough to the annual energy consumption of 160 households. If GE can figure out a method to harness a sizable portion of this energy, both fuel consumption and pollution would be dramatically reduced. GE estimates a 15 percent reduction in fuel and a 50 percent reduction in emissions compared to current freight train technology. The hybrids will also perform better at altitude and on steep climbs. GE claims that if every locomotive in the U.S. were switched to this hybrid technology, the nation would save $425 million in fuel. Whether the figures touted include the extra resources that go into making the additional batteries necessary to store all of this energy, the environmental costs of their disposal, or extra financial costs associated with this technology is unclear. But, according to GE, this aint no pie-in-the-sky: their hybrid locomotive is slated to roll out in 2010. It should come as no surprise that we here at Carectomy love trains. If we can take a great invention and make it even greener, more efficient, and faster, it'll make it hard to ignore what is becoming increasingly obvious: we need more trains, more routes, and a better infrastructure in the U.S. Via Inhabitat.
Comments (4)
J.C., Sr.
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Sounds good to me but it seems to me there's a whole lotta brakin' goin' on to stop a full load of cars being towed by that one engine. Why not add a few cars equipped with that system to boot? Of course in Japan and Europe they already have electrified their system. Have they figured out how to return all that energy to the grid? |
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^^^^ That's what I want to know also... Have they figured out how to return the braking energy back to the grid instead of to an inefficient battery? This is fantastic technology either way though, and a huge step in the right direction. |
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It would make much more sense for American railroads to electrify their lines. Then they could be powered by 100% renewable energy. But even diesel trains are far more efficient than trucks... |
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According to an article by Thomas Friedman several months ago in the New York Times, GE's transportation division is actually one of the few companies exporting to China! And their trains, which are much more energy-efficient than their Chinese counterparts, are one of the main reasons for that. |
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