Freight vehicles that move goods worth trillions of dollars are responsible for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions; the industry’s carbon footprint could double by 2050.
St. Louis-based Intramotev launched in 2020 to electrify rail freight by retrofitting traditional freight trains with electric motors, batteries, sensors and controls that make them autonomous and energy efficient. Intramotev’s Tim Luchini says that Intramotev railcars can carry 100 tons of goods up to 100 miles with 100 kilowatt-hours of charging. The company installed its technology at a mining facility in Pennsylvania this year.
Low-carbon mobility
Investors in Intramotev’s Series A investment round include Advantage Capital, Alpaca VC, Collide Capital and Behind Genius Ventures. “With less than 1% of US rail electrified today, electrifying rail is a massive opportunity,” said Behind Genius’ Page Finn Doherty.
Other companies working to electrify freight transit include Sweden’s Einride, which has built a fully electric driverless freight vehicle. Los Angeles-based Parallel Systems also is building automated and battery-electric freight rail vehicles.
