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July 2026
Compiled by Michael Popke
Hyster® XTLG series lithium-ion powered electric forklifts are designed for demanding material handling applications requiring durable, heavy-duty trucks transitioning from internal combustion engine (ICE) equipment to electric alternatives. Available with load capacities up to 15,432 pounds, the trucks are built on an ICE forklift chassis with high ground clearance to handle uneven surfaces and enable parts-sharing with ICE forklifts already in a user’s fleet.
For operations accustomed to ICE power for rugged outdoor performance on a light- to medium-duty schedule, the trucks offer electric alternatives that provide ICE-like performance with greater efficiency, Hyster officials said in an email.
A central feature of the XTLG series is the integrated Hyster lithium-ion battery system, which is engineered to be compatible with Hyster lift trucks and chargers. The battery utilizes lithium iron phosphate chemistry for thermal stability, long service life and fast-charging capability. The modular battery design allows individual battery modules to be serviced or replaced without changing the full pack.
The integrated power system helps mitigate the risk of compatibility issues that can plague third-party lift truck power solutions, enabling communication between the battery, charger and truck to support operational monitoring and battery management, company officials said. Battery data can be incorporated into Hyster Tracker telemetry for near real-time monitoring of a variety of operating conditions.
At Railway Interchange 2026, Our Next Energy (ONE) unveiled the Iron line of lithium-iron phosphate battery systems designed to charge and discharge at -35 degrees Celsius with no power derate while retaining 75% of energy capacity — making it the first lithium battery platform in North America capable of true year-round railroad service, according to the company.
The Iron product line covers four major rail battery jobs. Iron 72 starts locomotives, replacing lead-acid starting sets with more than 1,200 amps of cranking current, more than 12 hours of hotel-load reserve and cold-weather support for automatic engine start-stop systems.
Iron 3 protects signals and is a sealed 3.2-volt, 618 amp-hour battery for standard bungalow and grade-crossing strings, rated beyond 3,000 full cycles with no maintenance and five times the energy per square foot of shelf space, company officials said.
Iron 12 powers cab, wayside and yard equipment in the Group 8D footprint at about one-tenth the replacement frequency of lead-acid, ONE officials said.
Iron 700 powers hybrid diesel-electric locomotives with more than 2.8 MWh and has completed over-winter Class I switchyard deployment.
OptiFuel Systems offers a portfolio of next-generation locomotive power solutions designed to help railroads reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions and improve operational reliability. The company offers full battery-electric locomotives and hybrid locomotive configurations, allowing railroads to align technology deployment with specific duty cycles and infrastructure needs.
The company’s locomotives feature Generation 5 modular lithium-iron phosphate traction battery systems engineered for demanding rail environments. The battery modules are designed to meet stringent locomotive shock and vibration requirements in multiple countries and incorporate advanced fire safety protections, providing enhanced thermal stability and operational safety, OptiFuel officials said.
The company also offers multiple charging pathways, including self-charging hybrid configurations, rapid DC fast-charging options capable of restoring charge in about one hour, and low-cost overnight shore power charging systems for battery-electric locomotive operators. The flexible infrastructure strategy allows railroads to deploy battery-electric and hybrid technologies without requiring extensive charging infrastructure investments, OptiFuel officials said.
The interchangeable battery modules are backed by a five-year warranty and rated for about 4,000 charge-discharge cycles, supporting an expected operational life of 11 to 15 years.
For seven years, Innovative Rail Technologies (IRT) has been manufacturing battery-electric locomotives, with U.S. Steel, Nucor and the U.S. Army among its initial customers. Other industrial and port projects now are underway, company officials said.
IRT can remanufacture existing locomotive cores or build new ones, depending on customer preferences and horsepower requirements. The units offer improved performance over the diesel locomotives they replace, including enhanced tractive effort and greater reliability, company officials said. IRT’s zero-emission battery-electric locomotives also are Buy America compliant.
The locomotives can be recharged in as little as one hour and operate effectively in extreme temperatures: This past winter, an IRT locomotive in Edmonton, Canada, operated in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius, company officials said.
IRT has manufactured locomotives ranging from 1,200 horsepower to 3,000 horsepower, with larger projects in the works. The U.S. Army’s 3,000-horsepower unit features a 2,350-kWh system that can pull Abrams tanks and provide a large source of backup power. Located at Fort Hood, Texas, the locomotive effectively serves as a mobile microgrid equipped with bi-directional charging capability, company officials said.
C&D Technologies offers a range of battery solutions engineered to meet railroad industry power requirements. The company provides reserve power systems designed to help keep critical transportation infrastructure operating safely, efficiently and without interruption.
C&D’s railway battery portfolio supports a range of applications, including railroad signaling, switch operations, onboard power systems, telecommunications networks and emergency backup power. C&D batteries are built to withstand vibration, extreme temperatures and continuous cycling demands, company officials said.
For switch and signal applications, C&D’s Liberty® MSE batteries utilize advanced MSE technology to deliver low operating float current, extended service life and flexible installation options. They are available as complete systems, individual cells or retrofit kits.
The company also offers its TEL-HT battery platform, a long-life VRLA solution engineered for rail communications and telecom infrastructure. Featuring optimized grid alloys and advanced MSE technology, TEL-HT batteries are designed to deliver reliable standby power in demanding operating conditions while reducing maintenance requirements, company officials said.
Additionally, C&D’s Pure Lead Max batteries are designed to provide high- performance reserve power with superior energy density, fast recharge capabilities and a compact footprint, making them ideal for critical rail and transportation applications where reliability and space efficiency are essential, they said.
C&D also works closely with rail operators, OEMs and system integrators to deliver application-specific guidance and responsive support.
Rolls Battery Engineering offers railroad batteries engineered to meet the demanding performance requirements of modern locomotive operations. Built in Canada by Surrette Battery Co. Ltd., Rolls’ full range, flooded lead-acid rail batteries are designed to provide exceptional cranking power, a long cycle life and dependable operation in harsh rail environments, company officials said. The batteries also feature heavy-duty construction, advanced internal components and 180-day liquid reserves.
Rolls’ proprietary Smart Battery Monitor is an intelligent onboard monitoring system for the company’s 32-volt flooded lead-acid models that gives maintenance teams real-time insight into battery health and performance, company officials said. The monitor continuously tracks critical operating parameters, including voltage, current, temperature, impedance and state-of-charge while also helping identify issues before they impact operations.
Integrated LED indicators and audible alerts provide immediate notification of undercharge conditions, declining performance or maintenance needs, enabling predictive maintenance strategies that can reduce service interruptions and extend battery life.
In addition to flooded models, Rolls offers maintenance-free sealed 2-volt AGM cells and 12-volt front terminal batteries for use in signaling and backup applications. In addition, select 32-volt flooded lead-acid batteries, including the 32 CH 25PR and 32 CH 33PR models, are fully compatible with Flow-Rite’s single-point watering systems, allowing technicians to service battery cells quickly, safely and consistently from a single access point, according to the company.
Since 1969, Schaefer has designed and manufactured high-performance power conversion equipment for demanding industrial and transportation applications. The company’s battery chargers support a range of freight- and transit-rail applications, and are designed to provide reliable power for onboard and wayside systems where uptime and long-term performance are critical.
Available in power ratings from 250W to 40 kW+, the battery chargers are engineered to support signaling, communications, control, safety and auxiliary power systems. They provide continuous DC power while maintaining battery readiness, helping rail operators ensure system availability during both normal operation and power interruptions, company officials said.
Built to withstand the harsh environments commonly encountered in rail service, Schaefer chargers are available in modular, rack-mounted and cabinet-mounted configurations. Advanced charging algorithms help optimize battery performance and extend service life, while integrated protection features guard against overloads, short circuits, reverse polarity and other abnormal operating conditions.
Company engineers also work closely with rail operators, OEMs and system integrators to develop solutions tailored to specific electrical, mechanical and operational requirements.
Stryten Energy manufactures battery solutions that are designed for a variety of rail applications. The systems are engineered to operate in demanding rail environments and support rolling stock and stationary infrastructure. Locomotive batteries provide starting power for Class I, regional, short-line and transit-rail operations across a variety of service conditions.
Beyond rolling stock, battery systems support essential railway infrastructure that helps maintain safe and efficient operations, company officials said. Applications include railway communications and signaling with Stryten’s Absolyte® batteries, which feature valve-regulated lead-acid technology to provide backup power for communications and signaling equipment.
The company’s battery systems also support critical technology infrastructure and help maintain continuity of operations during power interruptions via Stryten’s IT and network operations centers.
In addition to manufacturing and product support, technical services are available to assist customers with battery maintenance, training and troubleshooting, company officials said. Service technicians can provide recommendations, repairs or replacement support when needed.
Wabtec Corp., which has tested and proven solutions in both hybrid and 100% battery-power applications, offers the FLXdrive, the world’s first 100% battery-electric, heavy-haul locomotive, company officials said.
Designed to replace a traditional diesel locomotive within a consist, FLXdrive can provide battery capacities to meet various rail applications, including yard operations and mainline revenue service. The battery technology enables railroads to reduce fuel consumption, emissions and noise, Wabtec officials said.
The battery technology powering FLXdrive also can be applied to diesel hybrid locomotives. Wabtec’s R255 Hybrid Work Locomotive, which was designed for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, can reduce (and, under some circumstances, eliminate) fuel emissions, especially during extended periods at a work site, company officials said. The 500-kWh locomotive uses GPS technology to automatically switch to battery mode when it moves into enclosed areas like tunnels, and it can work in “battery only” mode for up to eight hours.
Ailit was founded to provide freight-rail operators with a cheaper, cleaner and future-proof alternative to diesel as a power source, company officials said. The aim: to build the world’s largest hot-swappable battery platform purpose-built for rail to address the current limitations of?battery rail adoption for freight, they added.
Modular and compatible with most existing diesel-electric locomotives, the platform is designed to upgrade fleets to hybrids with minor intervention. Ailit’s power packs also can be hot-swapped, allowing locomotives to be refueled virtually in minutes.?
Ailit engineered its rail battery platform from scratch, “unlocking true long-distance operations and virtually endless uptime for most use-cases, thanks to the modular architecture,” company officials said. Its AI-powered energy orchestration with smart charging and grid trading capabilities allows Ailit to offer Energy-as-a-Service solutions below diesel cost, they said.
Michael Popke is a Madison, Wisconsin-based freelance writer.
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