Mining company Vale and locomotive manufacturer Wabtec Corporation have launched a joint study to develop a dual-fuel locomotive engine capable of operating on both diesel and an ethanol–diesel blend. Laboratory tests will validate the concept, measuring performance, emission reductions, and ethanol substitution rates. The trials are scheduled to run through 2027, with the aim of future application in the Vitória–Minas Railway (EFVM) fleet in Brazil.
The collaboration builds on Vale’s broader rail decarbonisation programme and its partnership with Wabtec to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Earlier this year, the companies agreed on the purchase of 50 Evolution Series locomotivescapable of running on up to a 25% biodiesel blend, with ongoing research to increase that proportion.
For the global rail industry, the project represents a significant step: it is the first time ethanol will be tested as a fuel source in a locomotive. According to Vale’s Vice President of Operations Carlos Medeiros, the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to accelerating the decarbonisation of its rail network, which accounted for 14% of Vale’s total CO₂ emissions in 2024. Wabtec’s regional president Danilo Miyasato added that the study could pave the way for new technologies supporting a more efficient and sustainable future for rail transport worldwide.
