Can you imagine a train that never had to stop to refuel or recharge its batteries thanks to a constant power source? If you are a fan of science fiction, it is likely that the eternal motor train of Snowpiercer: Snowbreaker -series that you can currently watch on Netflix and the 2013 film of the same name where the Earth has become an inhospitable place- comes to mind. , completely frozen and the only survivors travel on a train that moves around the globe and must always remain in motion -.
Well, that is exactly what a team of scientists from the company Fortescue Future Industries is developing together with Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE): an ‘infinite train’ that would be the first of its kind and would be driven by the force of gravity.
How would this real-world Snowpiercer work?
It operates in the same way that hybrid electric cars are powered. The train will be powered by an electric battery that will not need to be recharged using conventional charging infrastructure, harnessing gravitational energy on downhill sections of the tracks. The friction of braking to slow the train will regenerate electricity, and in theory the train could carry materials and, one day, people without having to stop.
The goal is also to reduce emissions to zero by 2030.
“The Infinity Train has the ability to be the most efficient battery electric locomotive in the world. Regenerating electricity on downhill loaded sections will eliminate the need to install renewable energy generation and recharging infrastructure, making it a capital efficient solution to eliminate diesel and emissions from our rail operations,” said the Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gaines in a statement.
This idea uses gravitational energy to recharge the battery while it is loaded with the extreme weight of iron ore, so that when it empties and becomes significantly lighter, it can easily return to its source without the need for manual recharging.
Each train is approximately 2.8 km long and has the capacity to transport 34,404 tons of iron ore in 244 wagons. Currently, the system is based on diesel engines, which consume 82 million liters of fuel per year. The company hopes to drastically reduce its use of diesel and eventually eliminate it altogether in the next few years with the help of the “Infinity Train.”
Infinity Train
Although not many more details are known at the moment, it appears that from the Fortescue mining sites, the team have calculated that there are enough downhill gradients and braking opportunities to charge the battery regeneratively, and as the train is much lighter when discharged, the battery can take you back to the mine and start the journey again without the need to refuel or stop to recharge.
“The Infinity Train will join Fortescue’s growing green fleet and help Fortescue become a major player in the growing global market for green industrial transportation equipment , providing tremendous value for our shareholders,” said Andrew Forrest, founder and president of Fortescue.
According to Forrest, “the world must, and clearly can, leave behind its highly polluting and deadly days of fossil fuels.”
Given this very interesting project, it is worth asking: Is this a specific case in which to use this technology or something that could be implemented in a broader market? Would it still be profitable if it did?
Referencia: Fortescue Williams (WAE) settlement powers development of world’s first Infinity Train. Fortescue Future Industries / Williams Advanced Engineering
