Vale signs agreement with Wabtec to test use of ethanol in locomotives

By Beth Moreira São Paulo, 10/13/2025 - Vale recently announced that it has formed a partnership with locomotive manufacturer Wabtec Corporation to develop studies on a flex (dual fuel) engine, capable of using both diesel and a blend of diesel and ethanol. According to the mining company, the studies will initially be conducted in a laboratory to validate the concept and evaluate performance, emission reduction, and the ethanol/diesel substitution rate. It is expected that the studies and tests at the manufacturer's facilities will take place by 2027, for future use evaluation in the fleet of the Estrada de Ferro Vitória a Minas (EFVM). In a statement, Vale highlights that the agreement for the use of ethanol is part of a series of joint initiatives with Wabtec for the advancement of the decarbonization program of the mining company's railway operations. In March, the companies announced an agreement for the purchase of 50 locomotives equipped with Evolution Series engines, ...