Solar Power for Diesel Locomotives and Trucks

Maximizing Return on Investment and Efficiency

Investing in solar power can yield a significant return on investment (ROI) for diesel locomotives and trucks, reducing diesel consumption, extending battery life, and improving productivity.

Diesel Locomotives

By installing solar power on diesel locomotives, there's no need to regularly run the diesel engine or connect a mains battery charger to recharge flat batteries if the locomotive hasn't been used for several weeks. Solar charging reduces diesel consumption, extends battery life, and improves productivity.

Low-profile solar panels on diesel locomotive to keep batteries charged

Trucks and Trailers

Solar power on trailers and sleeper cabs provides an off-grid, independent power source that can top-up the battery bank, ensuring ample power for lights and monitoring equipment. Solar power helps maintain optimal charge during periods of trailer inactivity, keeping batteries topped up. Systems can range from a few watts up to multiple kW.

Longer battery and alternator life, along with the elimination of service calls for jump-starting, contribute to a greater ROI. Solar panels can power truck and trailer refrigeration, liftgates, pallet jack chargers, safety lights, and trailer tracking and telematics, even when the trailer is untethered. Solar power is especially beneficial for leasing companies and fleets that drop trailers for extended periods.

Solar panels also provide driver comfort without idling, allowing for noiseless sleep and enabling the refrigerator to remain on in the sleeper when the driver is off the truck for an extended period. Adding an inverter can provide a safe supply of AC power.

Prime movers benefit from solar Solar power for untethered truck trailers