The Baltic Sea Region LNG cluster members inked an agreement to develop an LNG hybrid rail locomotive, with a six-month prototype design and development period.
The partners in the LNG hybrid locomotive project are AB Lietuvos geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways), Klaipėda Stevedoring Company BEGA, AB Klaipėdos Nafta, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and Klaipėda University.
LNG hybrid system will be combined with a battery pack in order to balance the locomotive performance for shunting purposes.
It is estimated that LNG driven locomotive fuel consumption will be up to 40% lower, carbon dioxide emissions would be 25 percent lower.
The new locomotive will be used to maneuver in the territory of Klaipėda Seaport, with the trajectory to be expanded gradually.
It is expected that the locomotive will be ready for use by 2020.