Electric locomotives | Wikipedia audio article
Channel: wikipedia tts
Date: 2019-01-18

This is an audio version of the Wikipedia Article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_locomotive


00:03:16 1 History
00:03:24 1.1 Direct current
00:09:20 1.2 Alternating current
00:18:18 2 Types
00:19:07 2.1 Direct and alternating current
00:23:24 2.2 Power transmission
00:23:53 2.2.1 Overhead lines
00:25:00 2.2.2 Third rail
00:25:45 2.3 Driving the wheels
00:29:07 2.4 Wheel arrangements
00:29:56 2.5 Battery locomotive
00:32:39 3 Electric traction around the world
00:32:49 3.1 Europe
00:35:28 3.2 Russia and former USSR
00:38:53 3.3 North America
00:39:02 3.3.1 United States
00:40:57 3.3.2 Canada
00:41:45 3.4 Asia
00:41:53 3.4.1 Japan
00:45:51 3.4.2 Malaysia
00:46:16 3.4.3 India
00:47:12 3.4.4 Pakistan
00:48:16 3.5 Australia



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SUMMARY
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An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or on-board energy storage such as a battery or a supercapacitor.
Electric locomotives with on-board fueled prime movers, such as diesel engines or gas turbines, are classed as diesel-electric or gas turbine-electric and not as electric locomotives, because the electric generator/motor combination serves only as a power transmission system.
Electric locomotives benefit from the high efficiency of electric motors, often above 90% (not including the inefficiency of generating the electricity). Additional efficiency can be gained from regenerative braking, which allows kinetic energy to be recovered during braking to put power back on the line. Newer electric locomotives use AC motor-inverter drive systems that provide for regenerative braking. Electric locomotives are quiet compared to diesel locomotives since there is no engine and exhaust noise and less mechanical noise. The lack of reciprocating parts means electric locomotives are easier on the track, reducing track maintenance. Power plant capacity is far greater than any individual locomotive uses, so electric locomotives can have a higher power output than diesel locomotives and they can produce even higher short-term surge power for fast acceleration. Electric locomotives are ideal for commuter rail service with frequent stops. Electric locomotives are used on freight routes with consistently high traffic volumes, or in areas with advanced rail networks. Power plants, even if they burn fossil fuels, are far cleaner than mobile sources such as locomotive engines. The power can also come from clean or renewable sources, including geothermal power, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, solar power and wind turbines.The chief disadvantage of electrification is the high cost for infrastructure: overhead lines or third rail, substations, and control systems. Public policy in the U.S. interferes with electrification: higher property taxes are imposed on privately owned rail facilities if they are electrified. The EPA regulates exhaust emissions on locomotive and marine engines, similar to regulations on car & freight truck emissions, in order to limit the amount of carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons, nitric oxides, and soot output from these mobile power sources. Because railroad infrastructure is privately owned in the U.S., railroads are unwilling to make the necessary investments for electrification. In Europe and elsewhere, railway networks are considered part of the national transport infrastructure, just like roads, highways and waterways, so are often financed by the state. Operators of the rolling stock pay fees according to rail use. This makes possible the large investments required for the technically and, in the long-term, also economically advantageous electrification.