BRAZIL: Mining company Vale and locomotive supplier Wabtec have signed an agreement to test the use of ethanol as an alternative to diesel fuel on the Vitória a Minas Railway.
Laboratory tests of a dual-fuel engine able to use both diesel and a mixture of diesel and ethanol will be conducted by Wabtec until 2027 to evaluate future use in the EFVM fleet
‘For the first time, Wabtec will use ethanol as an energy source in a locomotive, a milestone in the global rail industry’, said Danilo Miyasato, President & Regional Leader of Wabtec Latam. ‘We are committed to developing technological solutions that accelerate the transition to more efficient and sustainable transportation.’
Vale’s EVP Operations Carlos Medeiros said the adoption of alternative fuels is part of the company’s commitment to accelerate the decarbonisation of the rail network, which accounted for 14% of its carbon emissions in 2024.
In March this year Vale announced an agreement to purchase 50 Evolution Series locomotives engines prepared to operate with up to 25% biodiesel mixed with diesel. In the coming years, Vale and Wabtec will conduct a series of tests with the aim of increasing the percentage.