advertisement

---

CANAC Inc. and RailPower Technologies Corp. recently reached an agreement to jointly develop and market hybrid switcher locomotives featuring integrated remote-control systems to North American and international markets.

RailPower will integrate CANAC's BELTPACK® locomotive remote-control system into 2,000-horsepower Green Goat™ and 1,000-horsepower Green Kid™ hybrid locomotives, and offer CANAC products and services to RailPower customers. CANAC will supply remote-control systems to RailPower's industrial customers on an Original Equipment Manufacturing basis.

Featuring a small diesel generator and long-life batteries, Green Goats and Kids are designed to reduce NOx and diesel-particulate emissions 80 percent to 90 percent, and fuel consumption, about 50 percent, compared with a conventional switcher.

CANAC expects to convert two of its 60 industrial switchers into Green Kid hybrids, as well as identify candidates for future conversions. RailPower might use CANAC's Montreal facilities to assemble some Green Goats and Kids.

"CANAC is one of the world leaders in locomotive remote-control technologies and has a large fleet of industrial switcher locomotives," said RailPower President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Maier in a prepared statement. "CANAC’s international presence provides additional real opportunities for both groups to expand upon."

Under terms of the agreement, RailPower customers will receive online support from CANAC's 24-hour help desk and access to related Web-based training programs; CANAC will provide field support for RailPower's locomotives.

"[We'll] be able to start implementing their innovative hybrid technology within our existing industrial switcher fleet and explore mutually beneficial technology and marketing initiatives within North America and globally," said CANAC President and CEO Frank Trotter. "We see RailPower's technology as having tremendous potential to help keep CANAC on the leading edge of this key element of railroad operations."