Fortescue Zero’s prototype battery-electric locomotive has made the 1,100 km journey from Perth to the Pilbara, marking, the company says, a major milestone in the decarbonisation of its heavy haul operations and Fortescue’s journey to Real Zero.

Developed for Fortescue, the locomotive is about to enter a critical yard testing phase that are key to scaling battery-electric technology for the unique demands of the Pilbara, the company says.

Ellie Coates, CEO of Fortescue Zero, said: “Over the coming months, it (the prototype battery-electric locomotive) will undergo rigorous trials to assess its performance prior to entering into Pilbara mainline conditions later this year.”

She added: “This milestone reflects the strength of Fortescue Zero, who is innovating and developing the in-house green technology solutions to decarbonise Fortescue. Our team continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in heavy industry decarbonisation.”

Back in September, Fortescue Zero and Downer announced a collaboration to jointly design and develop the world’s most energy efficient battery-electric locomotive.

Fortescue has previously been exploring the development of a world-first Infinity Train, which would use gravitational energy to recharge its battery-electric systems without any additional charging requirements.