US could make trains nearly Zero carbon if they invest in retrofitting.


 

Most US trains are diesel powered and there has been a lot of resistance to electrification over the last few years because the only account for 2% of the transportation costs for diesel freight trains do manage to admit 35000,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. The recent dramatic decline in battery prices have created a new possibility for electrification by retrofitting diesel trains to turn them into diesel electric trains. It is now economically viable to do this but whether America wants to do this is another matter. In diesel electric trains the diesel engine is connected to an alternator but then supplies electricity to electric motors using powerlines to power the trains is not usually feasible because of the vast distances involved however powering these trains by batteries is more feasible. Now the weights of batteries are less of a constraint and could make these trains more efficient and more carbon friendly.

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