Electric rail vehicles to undergo autonomous trials in the United States.

author: FutureCar Staff    

Autonomous electric rail vehicles are set to be trialed in the United States, following the success of self-driving cars on the country's streets. In this trial, however, the traditional concept of a "train" is absent.

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

Each autonomous rail vehicle is equipped with its own battery, traction motor, computer, and sensors. They have the capability to 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.

These vehicles use only 25% of the energy consumed by an articulated lorry, making them highly energy-efficient. Additionally, they offer the lowest operational cost among surface freight transportation options.

Two railway companies, Georgia Central Railway and Heart of Georgia Railroad, have applied to the Federal Railroad Administration to pilot this technology on portions 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, revitalize traffic on rural rail lines, and reduce carbon emissions by removing trucks from the region's roads.

It is important to note that this new technology primarily aims to shift freight transportation from the road to the rail, rather than being a completely new way to move rail freight. However, this shift will inevitably be a by-product of the technology. Therefore, it is expected that the autonomous rail vehicles will primarily operate on 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 handled by trucks. The company believes that mile-long trains pulled by a central locomotive are not economically viable for such routes.

The autonomous rail vehicles have a range of 500 miles on a single charge, and they can be charged within one hour. This ensures that their range is not a limiting factor.

Unlike traditional freight trains, Parallel's platoons do not require large quantities of freight to be economically viable. This allows them to offer a more responsive service and a wider range of routes.

In terms of safety, Parallel claims that their system is safer than traditional trains. The vehicles are equipped to quickly detect hazards and can stop up to 10 times faster than a train. The closed network of the railroad, with limited track access and centralized traffic control, makes it an ideal environment for autonomous technology.

If approved, the pilot of this technology will commence next year.

FutureCar Staff