Electric rail vehicle trials in the US

author: FutureCar Staff    

Autonomous electric rail vehicles will soon be trialed in the United States, following the success of self-driving cars on American streets. However, in this particular trial, the concept of a traditional train will be noticeably absent.

The rail transportation system has been developed by Parallel Systems, a Los Angeles-based company founded in 2020 by former SpaceX engineers. Their goal is to create battery-electric rail vehicles that can move freight in a cleaner, safer, and more cost-effective manner compared to traditional trucks.

Each autonomous battery-electric rail vehicle is equipped with its own battery, traction motor, computer, and sensors. These vehicles can move independently along the rail, but for greater efficiency, they are expected to travel in groups of 10 to 15, transporting standard shipping containers as a single or double stacked load.

Compared to articulated lorries, the autonomous rail vehicles use only 25% of the energy, making them more environmentally friendly. Additionally, they are claimed to offer the lowest operational cost among surface freight transportation options.

Georgia Central Railway and Heart of Georgia Railroad have applied to the Federal Railroad Administration for permission to pilot this technology on sections of their rail lines. They believe that adopting this technology has the potential to attract new container business to and from the Port of Savannah, as well as revitalize traffic on rural rail lines and inland ports in Georgia. This would not only reduce the number of trucks on the roads but also decrease carbon emissions.

It is important to note that this new technology primarily aims to shift freight transportation from the roads to the rails, although it will inevitably impact rail freight as well. Consequently, the autonomous rail vehicles are expected to make relatively short journeys.

Matt Soule, the founder and CEO of Parallel Systems, explained that the goal is to use platoons of autonomous rail cars to deliver freight on routes of approximately 500 miles, which are currently serviced by trucks. This is because mile-long trains pulled by a central locomotive are not economically viable for such routes.

The units can travel up to 500 miles on a single charge, and since they can be charged within an hour, range is not a limiting factor. Unlike traditional freight trains, Parallel's platoons do not require large quantities of freight to be economically feasible, allowing for a more responsive service and a wider range of routes.

Parallel Systems claims that their system is safer than traditional trains. The autonomous vehicles are equipped to quickly detect hazards and can stop up to 10 times faster than a regular train. They also highlight that the closed network of railroads is ideal for autonomous technology due to limited track access and centralized traffic control.

If approved, the pilot for the autonomous electric rail vehicles will commence next year.

FutureCar Staff