Cost and Advantages

What if you could pay for a new locomotive through the cost savings in 10 years of operation?

Depending on the specifics of the operation, the savings in utilizing inexpensive grid energy to power a transportation system, combined with a low annual maintenance cost over 10 years could add up to a significant portion of the cost of a new locomotive, if not outright pay for it. The more demanding the operation, the better the return will be. Large scale locomotives vary in their energy requirements according to the work they do. A small 15" gauge operation lightly running for 8 hours per day may use 10KWHrs of grid energy per day, whereas a much larger 24" locomotive used heavily for 12 hours will use approximately 45KWHrs. At current electricity rates, the cost of using grid energy for powering a rail system will be significantly below the cost of operating an internal combustion engine. On average, 20% of the cost of diesel fuel is a fair estimate for assessing the savings through using electricity from a local utility. The savings over gasoline or propane as a fuel will be even greater. The cost of battery locomotive maintenance will be reduced to approximately 30% that of a locomotive with an internal combustion/hydraulic drive.

Battery Powered Replica Steam Locomotive Advantages:

• Low operating costs
• Increased reliability
• Lower insurance rates compared to live steam
• Environmentally friendly

Low operating costs:

As stated above, savings will vary according to the particulars of any one operation. To do a meaningful cost savings analysis, the local cost of grid energy must be compared to the local cost of fuel. It is important to compare prices using similar currencies and consistent units of measurement to ensure results are not misleading. Utilities present the breakdown of their electricity pricing in various ways, often including service charges over and above the actual per kilowatt-hour price quoted. All extras must be included to properly reflect the actual prices. The time of day of energy usage can also determine the cost. In most cases the batteries on a park locomotive will be charged over night and doing this can yield reduced energy costs.

It is the battery that allows the inexpensive grid energy to be utilized in mobile applications. With an industrial battery having a finite life of an average of 1,500 charge/discharge cycles, the cost of operating the locomotive per day should include a factor which accounts for the expense of eventually needing to replace the battery. One charge/discharge cycle represents one day of usage, and the battery expense simply becomes the replacement cost of the battery divided by its 1,500 cycle life span. In a locomotive with a properly sized and maintained battery, the daily cost of the electricity required to run the locomotive will approximate the daily battery expense.

For a true cost comparison in a specific application, one needs to determine the cost of grid energy per kilowatt-hour, and the price of fuel in your area. Also needed is the number of hours of operation, the length of track covered in each trip, the average speed traveled during each trip, and the average time spent in the station loading and unloading passengers. Scaled Plus can then assess the projected cost savings in your particular operation once the required capacity of battery has been determined. In operations currently using upward of 15 gallons of fuel per day, the savings in utilizing inexpensive grid energy can be substantial when accumulated over a 10 year period.

Battery locomotives have fewer moving parts than locomotives powered by steam or internal combustion engines. With the replacement cost of the battery assigned to the cost of operating the locomotive rather than the maintenance budget, maintenance costs for battery locomotives are significantly lower when compared to other types of locomotives.

Increased Reliability:

With lower maintenance costs comes increased reliability. Scaled Plus designs its locomotives with bearing ratings of at least 30,000 hours. That is 4,000 ten-hour shifts if 15 minutes of downtime per hour is allowed to load and unload passengers. At 200 days of operation per year, that is a life expectancy of 20 years. The regenerative braking feature of the DC drive takes a large portion of the wear and tear away from the brakes of the locomotive. Scaled Plus locomotives utilize hydraulic disc brakes with a redundant mechanical parking brake caliper. Our application of a DC motor sees relative low current draw. Therefore, the life of the motor brushes will be many years.

Lower Insurance Rates compared to Live Steam:

Insurance companies base their rates proportional to the risks they assume. Comparing the reduced liabilities of battery powered locomotives to that of live steam, more insurance options are available which translates to more competitive rates.

Environmentally Friendly:

Grid electrical energy is generated in volume, which reduces the environmental impact. Battery locomotives utilize this clean energy whereas, gas and diesel locomotives directly produce emissions during their operation. As for the greenness of the batteries, where properly exercised, battery recycling has been proven to be the most successful form of recycling with claims of 98% recycled materials being utilized in the lead and plastic of new batteries.

Wind/solar generating systems for charging the batteries is the ultimate green source, but requires a two battery system. One battery in operation and one being charged throughout the daylight hours. This requires additional cost and is only suited to the person or company that wishes to utilize a renewable energy source. As an alternative, Scaled Plus locomotives will accept fuel cells as a source of energy, but once again the price makes this an environmental choice rather than economic one.