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Supply Side: FourKites, Intramotev, Medha/Leclanché

Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
According to Intramotev, its ReVolt cars remain in the train consist “to capture energy via regenerative braking and reduce locomotives’ diesel consumption,” while its TugVolt cars (pictured)—supplied as a “proprietary kit that can retrofit/upfit existing railcars to become battery-electric”—can decouple from the consist to independently provide first- and last-mile service.

According to Intramotev, its ReVolt cars remain in the train consist “to capture energy via regenerative braking and reduce locomotives’ diesel consumption,” while its TugVolt cars (pictured)—supplied as a “proprietary kit that can retrofit/upfit existing railcars to become battery-electric”—can decouple from the consist to independently provide first- and last-mile service.

FourKites, a real-time supply chain visibility company, earns a 2023 Gartner Marketing and Communications Award. Also, Intramotev will supply three battery-electric railcars to Iron Senergy for its mining operation in Waynesburg, Pa.; and Medha Group and Leclanché SA agree to jointly market their technologies in the railroad and commercial truck markets.

FourKites

FourKites on June 6 reported receiving a 2023 Gartner Marketing and Communications Award for Excellence in Reputation and Thought Leadership. It was one of 12 winners that were selected from more than 400 entries. Other awards included excellence in brand activation and experience, change communications, and marketing operations.

Gartner’s panel of 22 chief marketing officers and chief content officers chose FourKites “for its use of real-time data and dissemination of strong executive perspective throughout the supply chain disruptions of 2022,” according to FourKites, which noted that as “a provider of real-time supply chain visibility for more than 1,200 of the world’s largest global brands, FourKites leveraged insights from over 3 million global shipments a day to fill the void of trade and shipping data.”

Gartner, the management consulting firm that also recently named FourKites and IntelliTrans as leaders in the 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platforms, stated that the communications award winners were “notable for their use of data to inform decision making and their relentless drive for innovation.” Specifically, FourKites said it “was recognized for its use of real-time data insights to inform trend stories about the impact of supply chain disruptions, curating strong executive insights on industry trends, and putting a spotlight on how leading companies were dealing with issues and fortifying their supply chains.”

Intramotev

Intramotev on June 6 reported finalizing an agreement to provide Iron Senergy with three ReVolt railcars for use on its 17-mile private rail line that transports coal produced by its Cumberland Coal Mine to its Alicia Harbor facility, which is located on the Monogahela River in western Pennsylvania. The battery-electric railcars will be deployed later this year in a traditional train consist. According to Intramotev, ReVolt cars stay in the consist “to capture energy via regenerative braking and reduce locomotives’ diesel consumption,” while its TugVolt cars—supplied as a “proprietary kit that can retrofit/upfit existing railcars to become battery-electric”—can decouple from the consist to independently provide first- and last-mile service.  

“Captive routes between mines and processing facilities have the opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and save costs through our proprietary battery-electric technology,” Intramotev CEO Timothy Luchini said.

“We are honored to partner with Intramotev and help pioneer the deployment of this technology,” Iron Senergy CEO and owner Justin Thompson said. “This investment is consistent with our commitment to innovation and the environment, and I look forward to exploring additional opportunities with the Intramotev team that will allow us to further increase efficiencies, lower costs and reduce our environmental footprint.”

In a related development, Intramotev at FreightWeekSTL 2023 in May reported on the commercial launch progress of its TugVolt, which the company claims “enables freight to move with the flexibility of a truck, without breaking the existing model of rail operations. This new railcar that would operate without the use of a locomotive has the potential to make the U.S rail system more efficient and sustainable, while also enhancing safety on the nation’s 140,000-mile rail freight network.”

Medha Group / Leclanché SA

Medha Group, a India-based supplier of vehicle traction systems and related electronics, and Leclanché SA, a Switzerland-based provider of energy storage solutions, have signed a partnership agreement to jointly market their technologies in the railroad and commercial truck markets. The companies on June 1 reported that the agreement allows Leclanché to provide its Li-ion battery pack solutions, including but not limited to its INT-53 and INT-39 high energy battery packs, to Medha for a variety of projects including auxiliary and maintenance railway vehicles as well as passenger trains. The collaboration covers the European, Middle Eastern and African markets.

Leclanché in April reported successfully passing a thermal-safety validation test for its rail industry INT-53 energy battery pack.

“The combination of Medha’s traction and related electronics, together with Leclanché’s advanced lithium-ion battery packs, will create a strong and attractive offering for leading train manufacturers and OEM commercial vehicle designers across three continents,” said Phil Broad, CEO of Leclanché E-Mobility.

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