After nearly a year of operation on a dedicated track line at the Jimblebar iron ore mine in Australia, BHP is proving that these 4,400 hp battery-electric powered heavy-haul locomotives are ready for prime time.

Australia’s first brand-new, purpose-built battery-electric locomotives (BELs) arrived in Port Hedland last November – and the two Wabtec FLXDrive BELs were immediately put to the test on BHP’s rail routes between its Jimblebar iron ore mines and Port Hedland operations in the Pilbara.

“The Pilbara has always been a place of big ambition, and these locomotives represent the kind of innovation that is needed to keep the region firing,” said Peter Thomas, Wabtec’s Regional Senior Vice President for ANZ & SEA. “Wabtec is proud to partner with BHP on this important step toward decarbonising rail operations. These locomotives are purpose-built to perform in one of the world’s most demanding environments, combining advanced battery technology and regenerative braking to deliver high efficiency and lower emissions.”

While most modern trains use electric drive motors, those are typically powered by diesel engines acting as electrical generators to haul up to 35,000 tonnes of ore. The Wabtec BELs are similarly powered by high-torque electric motors, but in these, the motors draw power exclusively from the locomotive’s batteries – and they are positively MASSIVE batteries!

Each of the Wabtec FLXDrive BELs is weighed down by a 7 MWh battery pack backed by advanced regenerative braking technology that can capture energy during downhill braking and feed it back into the battery.

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