# One-of-a-Kind Green Rails Norfolk Southern Railway Develops Plug-in Electric Locomotive By Katie Cordrey | Published 2009-10-10 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/norfolk-southern-railway References: [altoonamirror](http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/523002.html?nav=742) Norfolk Southern Railway is putting a [zero-emissions battery-powered prototype locomotive](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/battery-electric-vehicles) to work in its Pennsylvania rail yard. Hybrid long-haul trains are in the company's future as well. The NS999 is a 1,500 horsepower locomotive. Norfolk Southern will use it to move cars around the rail yard. 1,080 [rechargeable 12-volt lead acid batteries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sodiumion-battery1) store about a day's worth of power. The batteries add to their plug-in charging by charging with the energy from breaking. **Implications** - By the end of this year, the VP of operations planning and support on the project claims the railway company will have built an over-the-road version of the locomotive with more batteries. Running first with a couple of diesels which wil help recharge the eco-train's batteries, Gerhard Thelan anticipates that eventually the battery engines will power a train by themselves. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.9/10 - Popularity: 16% | Activity: 64% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Zero-emissions Railways:** The development of zero-emissions locomotives like the NS999 presents an opportunity for railway companies to cut down on their carbon footprint and reduce their environmental impact. - **Battery-powered Vehicles:** The success of the NS999 could pave the way for other industries to explore battery-powered vehicles and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. - **Plug-in Charging Technology:** The use of plug-in charging technology in the NS999 suggests the possibility of integrating this technology in other areas of transportation, potentially making charging electric vehicles more convenient and accessible. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Railway:** The NS999 demonstrates the potential for railway companies to innovate and reduce their environmental impact, presenting opportunities for growth in the industry. - **Battery:** As the NS999 uses rechargeable batteries, there is potential for growth in the battery industry, particularly for companies that specialize in developing batteries for sustainable energy uses. - **Electric Vehicle:** The success of the NS999 highlights the potential for electric vehicles to be used in other transportation industries, such as shipping or aviation. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Decarbonized Long-Haul Trucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/longhaul-truck.md) - [Electrically Powered Mining Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mining-haul-truck.md) - [Electric Autonomous Tractors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-holland-t4-electric-power.md) - [Energy-Hauling Battery Tankers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/battery-tanker.md) - [Fully Electric Semi Trucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kenworth-t680e.md) - [Electric Freight Trucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eactros-longhaul.md) - [Battery-Electric Bus Solution](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/battery-electric-bus.md) - [All-Electric Mining Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mining-truck-prototype.md) - [Ammonia-Powered Ships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/novel-ship.md)