Bnsf, Caterpillar and Chevron to work on hydrogen Locomotive
The agreement is an important step toward advancing new use cases for hydrogen in heavy-duty transport.
Progress Rail (a Caterpillar Inc. company), Bnsf Railway Company, and Chevron USA signed an MoU to demonstrate a locomotive powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
The aim is to confirm the feasibility and performance of hydrogen fuel for use as a viable alternative to traditional fuels for line-haul rail. Progress Rail plans to design and build a prototype hydrogen fuel cell locomotive for line-haul and/or other types of rail service.
Chevron expects to develop the fuelling concept and infrastructure to support this use of the locomotive. The prototype hydrogen fuel cell locomotive is expected to be demonstrated on Bnsf’s lines for a mutually agreed upon period of time.
The proposed demonstration project is subject to the negotiation of definitive agreements with customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.
Joe Creed, President at Caterpillar, said, “Our Progress Rail team will leverage that knowledge and experience toward a hydrogen fuel cell locomotive.”
John Lovenburg, VP at Bnsf, commented, “This technology could one day be a lower-carbon solution for line-haul service, as it has the potential to reduce carbon emissions and remain cost-competitive.”
Jeff Gustavson, President of Chevron New Energies, noted, “Chevron is dedicated to scaling up its hydrogen business to help meet the needs of customers who want to reduce the lifecycle carbon emissions of their operations.”
