The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has partnered with Parallel Systems, a pioneering autonomous electric railcar startup, to help decarbonize America's freight industry. The collaboration aims to shift the traditional reliance on carbon-based fuels to electric locomotives and infrastructure, supporting zero-emission freight movement across the country.
Parallel Systems has introduced a new concept in the form of battery-electric railcars equipped with self-driving technology similar to that of autonomous electric road vehicles. These innovative railcars use 'platooning' technology to reduce drag and energy consumption, offering a transformative approach to rail freight that combines the efficiency of rail with the flexibility of trucks.
To navigate the complexities of deploying these autonomous vehicles and managing the logistics infrastructure, Parallel Systems is utilizing NREL's Advanced Locomotive Technology and Rail Infrastructure Optimization System (ALTRIOS) software. Funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) and supported by the University of Texas at Austin, ALTRIOS is the world's first comprehensive and open-source software to optimize rail decarbonization. It will play a crucial role in quantifying the energy and emissions savings offered by Parallel Systems' vehicles compared to traditional locomotives.
The collaboration is a step towards reducing the carbon footprint of the transport sector. By facilitating the shift of freight currently transported by truck to these battery-electric rail vehicles, the initiative promises to reduce energy consumption by up to 75% per mile and reduce highway congestion.
Parallel Systems’ co-founder and CEO, Matt Soule, highlighted the rail industry's potential in driving broader transportation decarbonization. “Our goal at Parallel is to give railroads the tools they need to convert some of the $940 billion U.S. trucking industry to rail,” he added.
