Austria: According to the EU Official Journal TED, the rolling stock has been procured by the freight operator Rail Cargo Austria (part of the Austrian company OBB) without tendering, due to the originality of the technology.
The contract provides for the delivery, testing, commissioning and maintenance of the autonomous freight cars. The size of the batch valued at €3.3 mln is not disclosed.
Launched in 2020, the American start-up Intramotev has developed the TugVolt retrofitting technology. Thus, the conventional freight cars are equipped with traction batteries and computer vision, ensuring autonomous uncoupling from a trainset, running independently to provide first and last mile services, and hauling up to five other wagons. A special mobile app allows for remote control of the self-propelled cars. The TugVolt wagons were previously put in operation at a calcium mine owned by Carmeuse in Michigan, USA.
