Canadian National (CN), a Canadian railroad company operating a 19,500-mile rail network, recently purchased the FLXdrive battery-electric freight locomotive from Pittsburgh-based Wabtec Corp.
CN has been in the process of developing a low-carbon economy, mitigating climate risks and reducing emissions. The locomotive is part of achieving those goals.
“As part of our sustainability strategy to reduce freight transportation emissions through innovation, we plan to continue to lead the sector by deploying low and no carbon technologies,” Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN president and CEO, said. “At CN, we believe rail has a tremendous potential to reduce the environmental impact of transportation. As a mover of the economy, CN is committed to playing a key role in the transition to low-carbon economy.”
FLXdrive technology can reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30 percent. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection awarded CN’s Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Co. a grant through the Marine and Rail Freight Movers Grant Program to purchase a Wabtec battery-electric locomotive.
Wabtec provides equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for the freight and transit rail industries.
The Science-Based Target Initiative approved CN’s commitment to reduce scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gases emissions by 43 percent per million gross ton miles by 2030.