Electric rail vehicles to undergo 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 streets. However, this trial will not feature the traditional concept of a train.

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

Each autonomous rail vehicle is equipped with its own battery, traction motor, computer, and sensors. They have the ability to move independently along the rail, but it is envisioned that they will travel in groups of 10 to 15 for greater efficiency. These vehicles will transport standard shipping containers, either as a single or double stacked load.

Compared to articulated lorries, the autonomous rail vehicles consume only 25% of the energy and offer the lowest operational cost for surface freight transportation.

In order to pilot this technology on portions of their rail lines, Georgia Central Railway and Heart of Georgia Railroad have applied to the Federal Railroad Administration.

The aim of this technology is to reduce the reliance on trucks for freight transportation, particularly in capturing new container business to and from the Port of Savannah. Additionally, it is expected to revive traffic on rural rail lines and inland ports in Georgia, while also reducing carbon emissions.

It is worth noting that the primary goal of this technology is to shift freight off the road, rather than revolutionizing rail freight. However, this may be an inevitable outcome. The autonomous rail vehicles are expected to make relatively short journeys.

Matt Soule, the founder and CEO of Parallel Systems, explained that the objective is to use platoons of autonomous rail cars to deliver freight on routes of approximately 500 miles. These routes are typically handled by trucks at present, as mile-long trains pulled by a central locomotive are not economically viable for such distances.

The units are capable of traveling 500 miles on a single charge, and they can be charged within one hour. This distance does not pose a limitation for their operations.

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

Parallel claims that their system is safer than the alternative, with the ability to quickly detect hazards and stop up to 10 times faster than a 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