Electric rail vehicles trial in the United States

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【Summary】A Los Angeles-based company called Parallel Systems has developed autonomous electric rail vehicles for freight transportation. These vehicles have their own battery, motor, computer, and sensors, and can travel independently or in groups. The vehicles are more energy-efficient and cost-effective than traditional trucks, and aim to reduce carbon emissions and traffic on roads. Two rail companies in Georgia have applied to pilot the technology on their rail lines.

FutureCar Staff Aug 23, 2023 6:58 AM PT

Electric rail vehicles trial in the United States

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 particular trial, the concept of a traditional "train" is absent, as a Los Angeles-based company called Parallel Systems has developed a system of battery-electric rail vehicles.

Founded in 2020 by former SpaceX engineers, Parallel Systems aims to move freight in a cleaner, safer, and more cost-effective manner than traditional trucks. Each autonomous rail vehicle is equipped with its own battery, traction motor, computer, and sensors, allowing them to move independently along the rail. However, for greater efficiency, it is envisioned that they would travel in groups of 10 to 15, transporting standard shipping containers as a single or double stacked load.

Compared to articulated lorries, these vehicles use only 25% of the energy and offer the lowest operational cost of any surface freight transportation. Recognizing the potential of this technology, Georgia Central Railway and Heart of Georgia Railroad have applied to the Federal Railroad Administration to pilot it on portions of their rail lines.

The companies believe that this technology has the potential to capture new container business and revitalize traffic on rural rail lines and inland ports in Georgia. By removing trucks from the roads and reducing carbon emissions, they aim to take freight off the road rather than introduce a new way to move rail freight.

Parallel Systems' founder and CEO, Matt Soule, explained that the goal is to use platoons of autonomous rail cars to deliver freight on routes of about 500 miles, which are typically handled by trucks today. The units themselves can travel up to 500 miles on one charge and can be charged in just one hour, making range limitations a non-issue.

Unlike traditional freight trains, Parallel's platoons do not need to carry large quantities of freight to be economically viable. This allows them to offer a more responsive service and a wider range of routes. Safety is a major concern with driverless technology, but Parallel claims that their system is safer than the alternative, as the vehicles can quickly detect hazards and 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 for these autonomous electric rail vehicles will begin next year.