Green Goats

Milne · Mar 14, 2005

Green Goat Demonstration Video

Canadian Pacific Railway to acquire first hybrid locomotives
CALGARY, March 14 /CNW/ - Canadian Pacific Railway (TSX/NYSE: CP)
announced the purchase of 35 Green Goat(R) Series hybrid locomotives over a
four-year period from RailPower Technologies Corp. (TSX-P) of Vancouver.
Under the agreement, seven of CPR's yard locomotives will be converted in
2005 to low-emission, quiet hybrid locomotives using hybrid technology and
used at CPR's Calgary operations as part of more rigorous long-term testing.
Another 28 Green Goats would be converted over the following three years if
the first hybrids meet performance guarantees, as is usual with new
technology, and if the technology performs well in further testing in adverse
winter conditions.
"The Green Goat(R) performed well in our first round of testing, last
year," Neal Foot, Senior Vice-President of Operations for CPR, said. "We need
to do more testing in strenuous conditions to prove the hybrid's robustness
before taking delivery of the others."
A three-month demonstration trial of a Green Goat(R) by CPR in Vancouver,
Calgary and Moose Jaw in 2004 showed the fuel, emissions and operational
benefits of RailPower's hybrid locomotives.
RailPower President and CEO, Jim Maier, said, "This is a strong
endorsement of our hybrid technology by a leading Class 1 railroad. CPR did
extensive trial work with the Green Goat(R) in various locations. This order
also provides a powerful impetus as we expand our sales efforts in North
America and provides a solid foundation for our order book through 2008."
CPR's yard fleet consists of approximately 220 low-horsepower locomotives
built in the 1950s. Replacement components are becoming increasingly difficult
to source. The addition of the Green Goat(R) is the latest in CPR's ongoing
commitment to modernizing its yard and road freight locomotive fleet with more
fuel efficient, environmentally friendly and powerful locomotives. CPR has one
of the youngest fleets of road freight locomotives in North America.
"The Green Goat(R) technology offers potential for a cost-effective
solution to renewing CPR's yard locomotive fleet," Foot said. "Our studies
indicate operating cost savings approaching $4 million annually should we
acquire all 35 Green Goat(R) hybrids. In addition, the capital cost is
significantly lower than acquiring new locomotives and is competitive with
acquiring used conventional locomotives."
Operating cost savings would be generated by lower maintenance
requirements and fuel consumption, as well as higher productivity. CPR tests
indicate the Green Goat(R) is as much as 60 per cent more fuel-efficient than
conventional yard locomotives with a commensurate reduction in greenhouse
gases. The hybrid uses plug-and-play modular components that can be quickly
replaced in the field, minimizing in-shop repair time and increasing fleet
utilization.
The Green Goats will be assembled by ALSTOM at Calgary shops leased from
CPR.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

About the Green Goat(R):
Powered by batteries that are charged by a small diesel genset, the Green
Goat(R) is significantly quieter than diesel locomotives. It meets the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 2 standards for particulate matter
in exhaust emissions, which came into force in 2005. RailPower Technologies
said its Green Goat(R) reduces smog-causing oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and
diesel particulates by as much as 90 per cent, compared with conventional yard
locomotives.
In a separate development, RailPower has been notified by California's
Air Resources Board ('CARB') that it has approved the company's application
for its Green Goat(R) locomotives to be given the designation of Ultra Low
Emission Locomotive ('ULEL'). The Green Goat(R) hybrid switcher is the only
locomotive to be given this designation and is the cleanest locomotive
operating on North American railroads. CARB, established in 1967, is a
department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. CARB's mission
is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources
through the effective reduction of air pollutants.

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Press Release on this story

[ March 14, 2005, 08:53 AM: Message edited by: Milne ]
Click to expand...

Michael Good · Mar 17, 2005

Does anyone know how many HP these have?

HemiAdda2d · Mar 17, 2005

Mike,
Link info here
"The Green Goat hybrid locomotives, by contrast, generate the tractive equivalent of 2,240 hp by combining a Caterpillar C9 8.8-liter, inline 6-cylinder diesel engine with a large bank of valve-regulated lead acid batteries. The 600V battery bank, specifically designed by RailPower, is maintenance free, has a long battery life, and high round trip efficiency. The added weight of the lead acid bank helps to improve the tractive effort or “pull.” This is a different situation than the auto industry where weight is a major issue."

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