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