This paper investigates the economic, environmental, and grid-resilience benefits of transitioning from diesel-electric to battery-electric locomotives in the US freight rail sector. The authors demonstrate that battery-electric trains, utilizing recent advancements in battery technology and access to renewable energy, can achieve cost parity with diesel trains, considering environmental costs and wholesale electricity pricing. A significant reduction in CO2 emissions and air pollution-related health damages is projected, resulting in substantial long-term cost savings for the rail sector and overall societal benefits.

Natalie D. Popovich, Deepak Rajagopal, Elif Tasar, Amol Phadke