Heidelberg Materials has ordered a battery powered ‘08e’ shunter for use at Whatley Quarry in Somerset following successful trials last year.
Class 08 locomotive (08296), owned by HM, will be the donor, having its diesel engine, radiator and familiar bonnet removed to make way for a new bodyshell with aluminium ‘gullwing doors’, as well as batteries and control equipment inside. It's due to be delivered in the summer.
Work will be done by Positive Traction which last year sent its prototype, 08308, to the same location for a two-week trial (RAIL 1022).
Vincent Pitt, HM’s Area General Manager, said the firm was “enormously impressed” with the prototype, and was “excited to see how it will perform on a permanent basis”.
“By offering a donor vehicle for conversion by the Positive Traction team we can capitalise on our existing assets and secure the long-term future of these powerful shunting locomotives in a sustainable way,” he said.
“This will help inform our future rail strategy as we work to achieve our 2030 carbon reduction commitments for transport.”
Heidelberg Materials has a commitment to reduce scope 3 emissions in delivery transport by 15 per cent by 2030 from its 2019 baseline, and be carbon neutral by 2050.
The prototype had two battery pods whereas the first production example will be equipped with six, giving more than 600kWhrs of available energy. Positive Traction said this will allow it to complete a full shift where it’s constantly being used with plenty of power left. Other changes include redesigned traction and auxiliary units.
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