GREEN Kid is the latest hybrid shunting locomotive developed by RailPower Technologies.
Smaller than the firm’s Green Goat (RG 11.01 p786), Green Kid is designed for operation in grain terminals, ports and other industrial sites where the duty cycle is less harsh than the busy shunting yards Green Goat is intended for.
The hybrid locomotive uses a diesel engine running at a constant speed to drive a small generator. This provides the power to charge a bank of on-board lead-acid batteries, which are used to provide constantly available power for the traction motors.
RailPower says the steadier and thus more efficent operation of the diesel power plant means that the 1000hp loco can potentially reduce fuel consumption by 50% compared to a conventional locomotive, and cut NOx and particulate emissions by up to 90%.
Green Kid was remanufactured from a conventional shunting locomotive by Southern Rail of British Columbia Ltd.
H The prototype 2000hp Green Goat locomotive has commenced lease trials in Los Angeles with Pacific Harbor Line.
RailPower Technologies Corp, Canada
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