GE’s newest Evolution locomotive takes a bow

May 18, 2009

Today, GE introduced its latest Evolution Series locomotive, which slashes fuel consumption by a whopping 17 percent when compared to North America’s aging fleet of DC-powered engines — and cuts emissions by 70%. It’s not only good news for railroad operators and the environment; it’s a win for Pennsylvania — as the new Model ES44C4 is manufactured at GE’s plants in Erie and Grove City.Today, GE introduced its latest Evolution Series locomotive, which slashes fuel consumption by a whopping 17 percent when compared to North America’s aging fleet of DC-powered engines — and cuts emissions by 70%. It’s not only good news for railroad operators and the environment; it’s a win for Pennsylvania — as the new Model ES44C4 is manufactured at GE’s plants in Erie and Grove City.


New kid in town: Six hundred of GE’s latest locomotives can displace up to 800 older locomotives, translating to an annual reduction of more than 70 million gallons of fuel -– the equivalent of taking 115,000 cars off the road for a year. The overall annual emissions reduction from this displacement is estimated to be 48,000 tons of nitrous oxide; 1,500 tons of particulate matter; and 1.0 million tons of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas.

Historically, DC technology, in which diesel fuel is used to generate direct current, has been the lower initial-cost option for heavy-haul freight applications. However, DC traction motors are found to be susceptible to reliability issues that require significant down time for repair as well as frequent maintenance for brush replacement and extensive cleaning. GE’s new AC motors, while also powered by diesel fuel, are not only more fuel efficient and cleaner, they have fewer parts to maintain and eliminate the electrical problems that hamper DC motors. As a result, they are easier to install and will spend more time on the rails instead of in the maintenance shop for repairs.


Orange crush: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway is the launch customer for this new model, and recently took delivery of 25 locomotives to test. “The early results have been positive,” said Chris Roberts, BNSF Vice President of Mechanical and Value Engineering.

“By introducing advanced technology that requires less maintenance, reduces fuel consumption and lowers emissions, we are providing our North American customers with an opportunity to upgrade their aging fleet with better performance — both on the rails and for the environment,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation.

The new Evolution Series also employs a sophisticated traction control technology that continuously monitors traction at the axles and automatically improves performance on heavy trains — similar to traction control on a car. Less energy is wasted as a result.

The Evolution Series Locomotive, introduced in 2005, represents a $400 million investment by GE over eight years. Approximately 17,000 GE locomotives are in use in more than 50 countries around the world.


Meet the press: Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation, unveiled the new model to reporters at GE’s manufacturing plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, today. “Railroads helped build this country, and this locomotive is proof that manufacturing and heavy industry can deliver the innovation that will drive economic growth,” he said.

* Read the announcement
* Read about the 3,000 Evolution locomotive being delivered to Kazakhstan
* Learn more about GE Transportation


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  • Longterm Investor

    Cool. One of the last few great American companies left.

  • James Pierce

    I have A concept that works rite in with your products this concept will replace all combustion engines all jet engine’s all coal & nuclear power plants at the lowest cost even old cars this concept can be fitted to the transmissions,or to the fan on planes, never to use an ounce of fuel.making the future cleaner than it has ever been. If you have any questions please notify me.Thank You James Pierce

  • Yawei Zhang

    Oh, that is very good!

    Hope you sell more in China.

  • harrysamuel

    How about electric trolley cars? GE seams to be concerned about the environment and the future. Why not produce electric cars and trolleys. GE could bring the world a cleaner environment. Do what GM refused to do at every time in history. Please GE, bring my children a cleaner world. Build some plants and get the electric car going down the road, as it was in 1998. The movie "Who killed the electric car" shows you what worked. Build it, I will buy.

  • Man From Manila

    I hope GE helps develop the railroad system here in the Philippines. This mode of transportation is widely used by commuters headed to rural areas and back. However, even though widely used, it is not being developed and not well-funded by the government.

  • John Chazik

    Just out of curiousity.
    How many freight cars and load capacity can
    the new locomotives haul????
    Is it comparable to diesel/electric????
    Thank you,
    John Chazik

  • Graciela Trillanes

    I am GE’s product manager for the new Evolution Model ES44C4 diesel-electric locomotive.
    In response to: “How many freight cars and load capacity can the new locomotive haul?”
    Several factors impact the tonnage that one locomotive can pull such as the degree of incline, weather, speed, weight of the locomotive, etc. For example, one Model ES44C4 locomotive that weight 416,000 lbs and has a Continuous Tractive Effort of 105,000 lbs with 27% track adhesion operating on a 1% grade can pull 31 cars with 143 tons per car for a total of 4,433 tons.

  • RUBEN RIVERA

    GE WE NEED A CLASSIC PASSINGER LOCOMOTIVE MILLONS OF PEPOPLE WHER SAD BECUZ THE’R ARE NO P30CH PRESERVD JUST LIKE THE MUSTANG AND GTO AND THUNDERBIRD THEY BRHOT BACK THE CLASIC CARS GE SHOUD BRING BACK THE P30 CH ONLY MORE MODERN UP GRADED GE PLESE BRING BACK THE P30CH A NEW VERSON THENKS GE FOR BRINGING GOOD THINGS TO LIFE

  • Sinan Bac

    I am an railroad fan/amateur from Turkey and I wish to express my great appreaciation to GE having produced these Evolution Series Diesel-Electric locomotives. I am deeply impressed with state-of-the-art technology and cleaner-environmental concerns combined.

    I am also happy for the collaboration of the General Electric with a turkish company Tulomsas, for the production and exportation of these Evo-series locomotives in Turkey. Hard to wait to see Evolution locomotives on turkish railroads!

    thank you and best wishes.
    Sinan Baç

  • paul carroll

    As a stock holder of Norfolk Southern…did they purchase any new GE locomotives for 2009-2010.
    I have tried to call the GE plant in Erie and Norfolk Southern in Virginia and cannot get anywhere.

    Thanks for your help in this inquiry,

    Cordially,

    Paul Carroll

  • Chris Kimmerle

    After forty years in the rail, coal, and natural gas business I would like to talk toggE regarding the next generation of locomotives.

  • Keith Lincicum

    My adult son is a railroad fanatic and is active in several H-O clubs actually teaching classes to other modelers in Portland OR. Both of us absolutely love and laugh out heads off at your rarely seen ad that shows in the last part the crowd at the driving the golden spike and looking for the day of the “cleaner burning locomotive” they are all covered in soot and white-eyed. Is there any way you could E-mail us a download of that add so we could laugh some more? His most expensive engine is a GE double with detail that is incredible with a built in sound card that he can fully control with encoder. I’m always amazed when I see it pull a train.
    Thanks for your reply. Keith L.

  • RUBEN RIVERA

    Amtrak P30CH THEY SHOUD BRING BACK A NEW P30CH JUST LIKE THE OLD CARS THEY MAKE A NEW STIEL MUSTANG Y NOT A NEW STIEL P30CH OR JUST MAKE ONE FOR A MUSIUM

  • Thomas J Dooley

    I supply fuel to numerous railroads, and was wondering if the new ES44C4 engine is compatable with a B-5 bio mandate in our state, can you answer this question or connect me with someone who can?

    Thanks

  • http://www.facebook.com/eldo.varghese.712 Eldo Varghese

    any chance to be in India??