BATTERIES AND FUEL CELLS -- ALTERNATIVE TRACTION POWER FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND SELF-POWERED RAILCARS

A preliminary study on the application of batteries and fuel cells as alternative motive power to diesel engines has been conducted. Three motive power consists are analyzed using the Boston to New York portion of the Northeast Corridor as a typical scenario for establishing the requirements. Various types of batteries and fuel-cell configurations have been analyzed to meet the established requirements. The preliminary study has shown that both batteries and fuel cells can be used today for certain motive-power applications, but a more detailed study should be conducted to establish more firmly their technical and economic feasibility. A comprehensive evaluation of the future development of batteries and fuel cells for railroad traction application is necessary. An RandD plan should be developed and designed to achieve equivalent performance to the diesel engine from these alternative powerplants.\n