RICHMOND, B.C., August 23, 2012 -- Corvus
Energy is providing 16 industrial use lithium-ion AT6500-48V
batteries for a prototype hybrid switching locomotive being
developed by Alternative Motive Power Systems (AMPS) with the help
of a New Technology Research and Development (NTRD) grant from the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
AMPS modular gen-set package with a hybrid gen-set module is
the first of its kind in the road switching/short line locomotive
marketplace. It is anticipated that repowering a conventional road
switching locomotive with AMPS hybrid gen-set package will reduce
NOx emissions by up to 98% and achieve 65% fuels savings. For
railcar movement indoors or in sensitive areas, AMPS Hybrid Gen-Set
locomotive will be able to function for short periods of time with
zero emissions due to the ability to operate without running the
internal combustion engine.
The testing phase for performance and emissions will be
carried out in early 2013. When complete, the
environmentally-friendly locomotive will operate in the state of
Texas where it will be used to move rail yard rolling stock by
Railserve, Inc. A Marmon Group/Berkshire Hathaway Company. It is
expected that the locomotive will be ready for the market place by
spring 2013.
"Fuel efficiency is becoming more and more important to
reducing operating costs," said Corvus Energy's CEO Brent Perry.
"Corvus battery modules offer a reliable, off-the-shelf solution
for a road switching locomotive that has extremely high power
battery needs in a rugged environment."
"There aren't any successful hybrid locomotives in North
America and perhaps the world," said AMPS president Dan Frederick.
"Corvus is a key component in the success of this locomotive, which
we believe will set new standards for rail line performance, value,
efficiency and emission reductions.
"We chose Corvus batteries for good reasons," continued
Frederick. "They have an excellent charge/discharge rate, a high
performance rate even in cold weather, and we like that they are
air-cooled not water-cooled. A bonus is that the battery management
system has safety and protection built into a streamlined case that
can't be readily accessed."
The locomotive sector represents an opportunity for
innovation in fuel efficiency that has the potential to be
transferred to other modes of transportation. Almost all
locomotives used today are powered by electricity, either generated
onboard through a diesel engine or provided through a connection to
the electric grid (third rails or overhead lines). Hybrid
locomotives which utilize stored energy from batteries are an
emerging alternative to these approaches.
About AMPS
AMPS delivers superior results in transforming heavy-duty
mobile equipment to hybrid electric power. The company works with
manufacturers' engineers and design teams to develop new products
for a growing market. AMPS assists industrial companies with
specific applications in mind, then guides them toward green
technology through a combination of equipment and control,
transforming challenges into solutions. For more information,
please visit www.AMPSonboard.com.
About Corvus Energy
Corvus Energy, based in Richmond, B.C., Canada provides
industrial-sized power in a compact, modular lithium-ion battery
system to commercial marine, transportation, ports machinery,
remote community, off grid and grid energy markets. Its
revolutionary battery packs have the capacity to output sustained
power comparable to diesel engines in hybrid and full-electric
vessels and vehicles. For more information, please visit
www.corvus-energy.com.