IRT to Deliver NUCOR’s First Battery-Electric Locomotive to Hertford County
Cofield, NC – July 31, 2023 – Innovative Rail Technologies (“IRT”), a provider of customized li-ion propulsion solutions to the locomotive rail market, announced today that it will deliver the first of two battery-electric switcher locomotives for operational use at Nucor Corporation’s Hertford County, NC steel mill in Q1 of 2024.
Hertford County, NC was awarded $4.1M from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) in November 2022 for a public-private partnership project between the County and Nucor Steel Hertford County for the repower of two diesel freight switcher locomotives to zero-emission, battery-electric propulsion. Innovative Rail Technologies (IRT) was chosen by the partnership to provide its proprietary ATLAS (Advanced Technology Li-Ion Adaptive System) propulsion upgrade to the locomotives, and also provide automated high-speed chargers.
According to the NCDEQ, the rehabilitation of the two diesel locomotives to zero-emission battery-electric ones will eliminate 93 tons of NOx over their lifetime, contributing significant health benefits to the community. Nucor is providing more than $2.5 million in matching funds toward this project which is expected to provide substantial productivity improvements and large savings in fuel costs and maintenance.
About Innovative Rail Technologies – IRT is a rail solutions provider offering its proprietary technology ATLAS (Advanced Technology Li-Ion Adaptive System). ATLAS is a turnkey, scalable propulsion and control package customized to the unique needs of customer operations. Paired with automated, high-speed charging, IRT’s ATLAS-powered locomotives maintain 24/7 availability for its operators in an economically beneficial package.
IRT was established in 2019 and has a rapidly expanding list of customers which includes Fortune 500 companies, Ports, Industries, and Short Line Railroads. IRT works with its growing nationwide network of locomotive remanufacturers (ATLAS Authorized Installers) and can also provide ATLAS kits directly to customers for in-house remanufacture. More information about the company can be found at: www.InnovativeRailTech.com
About Nucor Steel Hertford County: Nucor Steel Hertford County is a state-of-the-art plate mill located in Hertford County, North Carolina, developed along the Chowan River. Nucor Hertford County employs close to 500 team members and produces high quality steel plate for Steel Distribution, Bridge and Highway, Industrial and Heavy Equipment, Wind Tower, General Construction, Pipe and Tube and many other applications. Nucor Steel Hertford County is one of 300 facilities in the Nucor Corporation family of businesses. Nucor Corporation employs more than 33,000 teammates with over 1,000 in North Carolina at operations spread throughout the state.