NRE lands first CARB Tier 4 certification

NRE’s NREX 2015 Genset on Aug. 14, 2015 became the first locomotive to be verified by the California Environmental Protection Agency as achieving U.S. EPA Tier 4 emission standards.

CARB (California Air Resources Board) confirmed in a letter to NRE that CARB staff verified the locomotive at NOx (nitrous oxide) and PM (particulate matter) emission levels at or below of 1.0 and 0.01 g/bhp-hr (grams per brake horsepower-hour), respectively. This verification qualifies NRE locomotives for the Carl Moyer Emissions Grant Program, which provides locomotive-funding grants of up to 85% of the total locomotive cost, as a trade-in transaction. The California-based program requires that the locomotive manufacturer hold a Tier 4 CARB Verified Certificate.

“After a rigorous 3,000-hour test period, NRE Tier 4 Genset locomotives have been verified and now qualify for this grant program,” the company, which pioneered the genset concept, notes. “NRE is currently the only recipient of this certificate to date.”

The NREX 2015 Genset is part of NRE’s N-ViroMotive locomotive product line. The N-ViroMotive product line consists of ultra-low-emissions four- and six-axle road and switcher locomotives that feature one or more gensets, described as “self-contained powerplants or power-on-demand technology.” Each of the powerplants contains an engine, generator/alternator and engine cooling system designed for installation and subsequent removal and replacement as one entity on a locomotive frame.

“We are very proud to be the first company to have a locomotive that meets the U.S. EPA’s newest green standards,” said NRE President and CEO Steven L. Beal. “This achievement is a testament to the dedication of NRE’s talented team and to our commitment to providing efficient, environmentally friendly locomotives for America’s rail industry.”

“As we move further into the 21st century, NRE will continue to focus on the future,” said NRE Marketing Director Brandon Bullard. “We will continue developing new locomotives to move goods more efficiently and with less impact on the planet.”