This is interesting.
However, the energy density of lithium ion batteries is 0.26-0.27 kwh/kg. That is fine for cars, obviously. , A heavy haul locomotive requires much more energy than a car. Diesel fuel has an energy density of 11.6 kwh/kg; that is 43 times the energy density of lithium ion batteries.
Let us say that a Metra locomotive has a 2000 gallon fuel tank. At 3.2245 kg per gallon, that would be just about 6,500 kg of diesel fuel. The energy equivalent in lithium ion batteries would be about 280,000 kg worth of lithium ion batteries. Given that a mass of 1 kg exerts a force of 2.2 pounds here on earth, that would be 610,000 pounds of lithium ion batteries. Compare that to an ES44AC which weighs around 420,000 pounds. How does this work?
Energy Density of some Fuels in kwh/kg
Lead Acid 0.05
NiCd 0.08
NiMH 0.12
Li Ion 0.27
Coal 8.0
Diesel 11.6
Gasoline 12.7
Nat Gas 13.6
Hydrogen 33.6
It seems that if one wants a clean fuel without CO2 emissions one would want to use green hydrogen (hydrogen from renewable energy source) or pink hydrogen (hydrogen made using nuclear power) to power a locomotive or other heavy haul vehicle as hydrogen has the energy density. Obviously there are logistics that need to be worked out. Hydrogen-air fuel cells are around 30% efficient currently and getting better every day.
Blue hydrogen and gray hydrogen would not be clean as they use natural gas as the hydrogen source and CO2 is made in the process. Gray hydrogen does not sequester the CO2 whereas blue hydrogen does.
