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Flexible Solutions for Freight Facilities – San Joaquin Valley Zero and Near-Zero Emission Enabling Freight Project

Flexible Solutions for Freight Facilities is a BNSF Railway-led initiative to demonstrate zero- and near-zero-emission technologies in and around its yards. GE Transportation (now Wabtec) designed, built, and commissioned a Battery Electric Locomotive (BEL) operating between Stockton and Barstow. The BEL reduced operating costs and significantly cut greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions. Additional demonstrations took place at BNSF’s Stockton and San Bernardino intermodal yards, including Mi-Jack hybrid-electric rubber-tire gantry (RTG) cranes at both sites. San Bernardino also deployed a full-electric side loader and BYD’s Class 8 drayage truck for short-haul operations. The project included electrical upgrades and installation of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to support charging of the zero- and near-zero-emission vehicles and equipment.

Vehicles/Equipment Funded:

Equipment: This project funded equipment and vehicles deployed at BNSF’s Stockton and San Bernardino railyards, including:
  • One GE Transportation Battery Electric Locomotive (Stockton)
  • Two Mi-Jack hybrid-electric rubber-tire gantry cranes (Stockton, San Bernardino)
  • One Taylor Machine Works full-electric side loader (San Bernardino)
  • One BYD all-electric Class 8 drayage truck (San Bernardino)
Infrastructure: This project provided for the accompanying electrical upgrades and EVSE equipment at Stockton and San Bernardino used for charging the equipment, including:
  • One wayside charger to recharge the BEL batteries (Stockton)
  • One RTG EVSE (Stockton)
  • EVSE for the Class 8 drayage truck and electric side loader (San Bernardino)

Lessons Learned:

  • Early and consistent communication with utilities and contractors is essential for successful electric charging infrastructure deployment.
  • Awardees, not the agency, are responsible for registering with the Department of Industrial Relations to enable contractor reporting on prevailing wages.
  • Vendors should be provided with clear deliverables and grant milestone descriptions to ensure accurate reporting and invoicing.

Status Updates:

  • BEL completed eighteen round trips between Barstow and Stockton during a three-month demonstration and improved fuel efficiency an average of 12%. The BEL has since returned to Erie, PA, for further testing by Wabtec.
  • The hybrid electric RTG cranes had a 70% fuel efficiency improvement; electric drayage truck saved an average of 16.7 gallons of diesel fuel a day; and electric side loader saved an average of 12.7 gallons of diesel fuel a day.
  • Electrical infrastructure and EVSE have been completed and continue to operate at the rail yard. Data collection is complete.

Technology:


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Vehicles / Equipment Status:​

Infrastructure Status:

View Final Report

Project Facts​

  • DATES: March 2019 – September 2021
  • GRANTEE: San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
  • PARTNERS: BNSF Railway, GE Transportation, BYD, MiJack, Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, SH&H Inc., ITS ConGlobal, Southwest Research Institute, Café Coop
  • GRANT NO.: G17-ZNZE-09

Grant Amount​

  • CARB Contribution: $22,616,647
  • Matching Funds: $22,620,673
  • PROJECT TOTAL: $45,237,320

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