GE Transportation’s Evolution® Series Locomotive ready for Russia and 1520-area market
MOSCOW-(Business Wire)-September 10, 2009 - GE Transportation announced that its Evolution Series® locomotive is on display at Russia’s Expo 1520 and ready for the Russian and 1520-area markets. The Evolution Series locomotive represents a $400 million investment by GE over eight years. The innovative locomotive is equipped with a 12-cylinder diesel engine that produces the same 4,400 horsepower as its 16-cylinder predecessor. The Evolution engine uses up to 5% less fuel, or approximately 1.1 million fewer liters of fuel over the life of the locomotive, while reducing emissions by approximately 40%.
“GE Transportation is committed to Russia and helping its rail infrastructure remain modern and efficient,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO of GE Transportation. “The proof is right here at Expo 1520: the Evolution Series ES44ACi version locomotive on display was specifically designed for Russia and the 1520-area markets. I hope the presence of the ES44ACi at Expo 1520 becomes a milestone in long and fruitful relationships with customers in the region.”
ES44ACi specifically designed for Russian and 1520-operators
The Evolution Series locomotive is particularly adapted to Russian and 1520-area operators. Although the Evolution Series locomotive platform uses proven technology that is operational throughout different areas of the world, the Evolution Series ES44ACi version locomotive was specifically designed from the beginning for operation in this region. Russian GOST Standards and Safety Norms were used to develop the design for this unique locomotive. In addition, GE’s experience with winter operation in Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia enabled GE to design a special optional extreme cold package for the ES44ACi to permit operation in the far north. The locomotive is also designed to use standard GOST fuel and lubricants available in Russia.
From an operational standpoint, the locomotive's performance enables one section of ES44ACi to replace more than two sections of 2TE10 locomotives, the most numerous mainline diesel electric freight locomotive in the region. The locomotive is designed to allow multiple unit operation and can be adapted for higher axles loads (up to 25 tonnes/axle) if conditions permit which allows operators to haul heavier loads over a longer distance. The periodic maintenance requirements have been significantly reduced from those of existing locomotives in the region and the maintenance, including overhauls, can all be done within existing locomotive depot infrastructure. Finally, GE is supporting customers with strong service and parts availability in the region.
“The entire region is seeing unprecedented growth in economic activity and need for transportation,” said Executive Product Director Kamal Shivpuri. “Thus there is an acute demand for more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly locomotives in the region. Based upon preliminary data, the market size appears to be approximately $10 billion over the next 10 years.”
Superior AC technology
Moreover, the Evolution Series locomotive is an industry breakthrough that delivers modern and efficient AC locomotive technology, replacing the older, less fuel-efficient DC technology. AC traction, for instance, provides these locomotives with higher pulling capability and less wheel slippage thanks to individual axle adhesion control.
These locomotives provide measurably higher reliability and lower maintenance costs. This is thanks to GE Transportation's proprietary AC propulsion and control equipment being more reliable and providing superior performance compared to DC Locomotives, which require brush changes and other maintenance support. Finally, the Evolution Series locomotives have dynamic brakes (in addition to air brakes), which reduce wheel and brake shoe wear by an estimated 20-40% depending upon usage.
Global platform
The Evolution Series represent a proven, global locomotive platform. Last year, GE Transportation delivered the first of 300, 6,000 GHP China Mainline locomotives to the Ministry of Railways in China. Rio Tinto Iron Ore received forty 4,400 GHP heavy haul Evolution Series locomotives to support its mining operations in Australia’s Pilbara region in 2008. JSC Lokomotiv in Kazakhstan ordered 310 GE Evolution Series locomotives. In fact, the first ten Evolution Series locomotives are already in operation in Kazakhstan, and have demonstrated that one Evolution Series can do the work of two TE10 locomotives.
Ecomagination™ product
The Evolution Series locomotive is one of GE’s most prominent ecomagination™ products. Ecomagination is a GE-wide initiative to help meet customer demand for more energy-efficient products while generating profitable growth for the company.
There are currently more than 3,200 Evolution Series locomotives in use worldwide.
GE in Russia
With operations in Russia since the 1920s, GE's businesses have grown rapidly in recent years. Today GE continues to invest in its businesses and provides a full range of innovative products and services meeting the needs of customers and society. Covering 11 time zones from Saint-Petersburg to Khabarovsk, GE operates in more than 30 major cities and employs over 2,800 people in Russia. In cooperation with national champions and local corporations, GE as of today has installed more than 1,500 units of large infrastructure equipment in Russia. In 2008 GE sales in Russia exceeded $1.5 billion.
About GE Transportation
Established more than 100 years ago, GE Transportation, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a global technology leader and supplier to the railroad, marine, drilling, mining and wind industries. GE provides freight and passenger locomotives, railway 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, Pennsylvania, USA, and employs approximately 10,000 employees worldwide. For more information visit www.getransportation.com.
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