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Batteries Included: Electric Locomotives?
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<p><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva;font-size:small;">Overmod,</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva;font-size:small;">Generally, I agree with most of your points. The point I was making is really simple. The original poster asked if battery locomotives were the way of the future. The answer seems to be that they are not because solving the technical problems would render them non-cost-effective. But add regulations and they might become cost effective. And yes, any number of alternative solutions might emerge and compete with each other for the best approach to meeting new regulations including just fleeing the regulations. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva;font-size:small;">Above I said, “…based on free market economics, nobody is going to buy locomotives that cost more to own and operate than conventional locomotives. But if a performance regulation adds cost to a locomotive, it will be accepted.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva;font-size:small;">And you said that I pointedly left out whether anyone will buy locomotives that cost more to own and LESS to operate.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva;font-size:small;">I only left that out because it has nothing to do with the point I was making which is about the ability of regulations to move the goal posts. Certainly I agree that if a locomotive cost more upfront but less overall because of more fuel efficiency or lower maintenance cost, for example, then sure that would be a good thing, and it might indeed be possible. But that is another issue. Railroads would buy that locomotive without the coercion of new regulatory cost. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva;font-size:small;">Just to be clear, I am not advocating the elimination of CO2 emissions. I am probably on the same page as you are regarding that issue. But it seems that much of this country is taking it very seriously. It may seem like the sky is falling, but occasionally it does fall. And I am not comforted by the fact that China and India are getting a pass. That seems to be part of the deal. The main focus of the call to action is targeted largely on the U.S. But in any case, I do not expect an overnight ban on emitting CO2, but a shift in regulations might overnight change what technology is viable. That is all I meant by suggesting abrupt change. </span></p>
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