Canada: The mainline locomotive and shunting locomotive were put into service at a freight terminal in Calgary, where the operator’s headquarters and the facility for producing hydrogen by electrolysis using energy from solar panels are located.
According to CEO Keith Creel, this is the most challenging site to operate, partly because of the low temperatures (below -41 °C). If the locomotives prove their efficiency there, they will be able to operate across the operator’s network.
CPKC’s mainline and shunting locomotives at Calgary converted to hydrogen traction. Source: CPKC
The project, announced in late 2020, involves the refurbishment of in-service diesel locomotives at CPKC’s Innisfail facility. Their diesel engines will be replaced with batteries and 200 kW Ballard fuel cells. As part of the project, the operator received a $15 mln grant to upgrade two mainline locomotives and one shunting locomotive in 2021. The first was unveiled in January 2022, while the second entered testing last year.
