GE Transportation Unveils New Evolution® Series Locomotive
ERIE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GE Transportation, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), announced today that it has introduced the newest line of fuel efficient and low emissions Evolution® Series locomotives, the Model ES44C4. The new model, which is part of GE’s ecomaginationSM environmental program, delivers a cleaner, faster, safer and more reliable alternative to the aging North American fleet of DC-powered locomotives. GE is building the new locomotive at its Pennsylvania manufacturing plants in Erie and Grove City. “Railroads helped build this country, and this locomotive is proof that manufacturing and heavy industry can deliver the innovation that will drive economic growth,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation. “This latest Evolution Series locomotive is an industry breakthrough, delivering a modern and efficient AC locomotive that replaces the older, less fuel efficient and less emissions friendly, DC-powered models. It also provides a direct replacement option for the current six axle, 4400 HP locomotives being delivered today.”
Added Simonelli: “By introducing advanced technology that requires less maintenance, reduces fuel consumption and lowers emissions, we are providing our North American customers with an opportunity to upgrade their aging fleet with better performance – both on the rails and for the environment.”
The new Evolution Series locomotive delivers significant performance improvement over existing DC-powered locomotives in three key areas:
BNSF road test
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway is the launch customer for this new model, and recently took delivery of 25 locomotives. Chris Roberts, BNSF Vice President of Mechanical and Value Engineering said, “We are putting these locomotives through rigorous testing to determine the benefits of this new AC alternative, and the early results have been positive.”
Evolution Series Locomotive
The Evolution Series Locomotive, launched in 2002 and introduced into revenue service in 2005, represents a $400 million investment by GE over eight years. GE Transportation recently celebrated the delivery of its 3000th Evolution Locomotive, a milestone validating this leading global platform.
The Evolution Series Locomotive is 5% more fuel efficient and generates 40% lower emissions than previous locomotives. It saves approximately 300,000 gallons of fuel over its lifetime. In addition, the Evolution Series Locomotive is more than 6% more fuel efficient than GE’s closest competitor in North America as validated by a nationally recognized, independent research institute in March 2009.
The Evolution Series Locomotive is one of GE’s most prominent ecomaginationSM products. Ecomagination is a GE-wide initiative to help meet customer demand for more energy-efficient products.
Evolution Series Locomotives currently are operating in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, Mongolia, Australia, Kazakhstan and Egypt. Approximately 17,000 GE locomotives are in use in more than 50 countries around the world. GE Transportation’s Evolution Series success story serves as a powerful reminder that free trade and open markets worldwide sustain businesses and employment opportunities in North America and beyond.
About GE Transportation
Established more than 100 years ago, GE Transportation, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a global technology leader and supplier to the railroad, marine, drilling, and mining and wind industries. GE Transportation provides freight and passenger locomotives, signaling and communications systems, information technology solutions, marine engines, motorized drive systems for mining trucks and drills, high-quality replacement parts and value added services. GE Transportation is headquartered in Erie, Penn., and employs approximately 10,000 employees worldwide. For more information visit www.getransportation.com.
