Ohio-based Zero Emissions Locomotive Technologies (Zeltech), a zero-emission battery-electric locomotives developer, and Texas-based HyOrc Corp., a clean-energy technology company developing multifuel engines and waste-to-methanol systems, recently partnered to jointly develop and deploy HyOrc’s hydrogen-ready gas-engine locomotives in the United States.
“This partnership marks HyOrc’s entry into the North American rail market,” Andrea Magalini, HyOrc president, said. “Zeltech’s rail expertise and our proven powertrain technology create a strong foundation for clean, scalable freight transport.”
The partnership targets the U.S. freight rail market, which has an estimated value of $71.8 billion, and initially will focus on a California-based pilot project. The partners will seek grant support from the California Energy Commission and other agencies.
The freight rail sector is under competitive and, increasingly, regulatory pressure to transition fleets to cleaner energy. This has created a growth opportunity for zero-emission powertrain retrofits.
Under the pilot project, the partners plan to demonstrate HyOrc’s external-combustion powertrain, a zero-emission, multifuel system that can operate on hydrogen, natural gas, or renewable fuels.
HyOrc also is advancing a green methanol project in Portugal that will use its proprietary waste-to-methanol technology that converts municipal solid waste into clean fuel. The global shipping industry is currently transitioning to methanol to meet International Maritime Organization 2030 decarbonization targets