BERLIN, Germany — GE Transportation introduced its new PowerHaul engine and locomotive at InnoTrans 2008 in Berlin, Germany.
InnoTrans is the world’s largest rail exhibition attracting more than 75,000 attendees and 1,600 exhibitors from 90 countries.
The newly developed 16-cylinder PowerHaul engine serves as GE Transportation’s most technologically advanced locomotive engine to-date, the company said. The PowerHaul engine is designed to power GE’s new global diesel-electric PowerHaul Locomotive Series.
The new engine combined with other technologies from GE is projected to reduce PowerHaul Locomotive fuel use by up to 9 percent compared to current operating fleet averages.
The 3,700 GHP engine is European Stage IIIa compliant and Ecomagination certified. Ecomagination is a GE-wide commitment to developing technology designed to help customers satisfy environmental challenges, to maximize performance and reduce cost.
“The new PowerHaul engine significantly increases fuel efficiency while lowering emissions,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation. “PowerHaul Locomotives are designed for cost-effective long-haul operating range, high tractive effort and haulageability, long-term emissions compliance and reduced life-cycle cost.”
GE Transportation’s PowerHaul Locomotive is based on the company’s global Evolution Series locomotive platform introduced in 2005. With more than 2,800 units in use today, the Evolution Series locomotive is one of GE Transportation’s best-selling products worldwide.
The 4,400 GHP engine delivers 5 percent higher fuel efficiency and a 40% reduction in emissions over previous locomotive engines, the company said. GE’s locomotive reduces fuel consumption by about 300,000 gallons, or more than 1,1 million liters, over the life of the locomotive.
GE Transportation already applied Evolution Series technology to serve its global base of rail customers. On Sept. 1, 2008, GE Transportation delivered the first of 300, 6,000 GHP China Mainline locomotives to the Ministry of Railways P.R. China. Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Kazakhstan’s state-owned national railway company, ordered 310 Evolution-based locomotives in 2006.
In addition, Rio Tinto Iron Ore received forty 4,400 GHP heavy haul Evolution Series locomotives to support its mining operations in Australia’s Pilbara region in 2008.
The PowerHaul engine represents GE Transportation’s first entry to the UK and European market place. UK-based Freightliner Group Ltd placed an order for 30 PowerHaul Locomotives in November 2007. The purchase represented the largest order of freight locomotives in Freightliner’s history. GE’s first PowerHaul PH37ACmi Locomotives are scheduled for delivery in Q4/2009.
InnoTrans is held from Sept. 19–26, 2008, at Messe Berlin. GE Transportation’s stand is located in Hall 5.2. For more information visit www.innotrans.com.
— Special to Railfanning News Wire
