Ensuring reliable locomotive starts is vital in rail operations. Without dependable starts, Dead-Won’t-Start (DWS) events can disrupt schedules, increase costs, and wreak havoc on fleet efficiency. For rail operators, tackling the challenges of locomotive starting is a top priority—and thankfully, the KickStart solution is revolutionizing how engines power up.
This blog highlights the top five challenges associated with locomotive starts and how KickStart’s advanced technology eliminates them.
Challenge 1: Cold Weather and Harsh Conditions
Bitter winters can halt even the toughest of locomotives. Extreme cold cripples lead-acid batteries, reducing their cranking capability and causing engines to fail at the worst possible time. When temperatures plummet, rail operators face delays, higher maintenance costs, and frustrated customers.
How KickStart Solves It
KickStart leverages supercapacitor technology to deliver the extra cranking power needed for reliable starts in freezing conditions. By easing the burden on traditional batteries, KickStart ensures locomotives remain operational regardless of harsh weather. With KickStart, rail operators can confidently prevent cold start failures, streamlining their operations even during deep winter.
Key Benefit: No more cold weather delays—KickStart keeps your fleet powered, no matter how low the temperature falls.
Challenge 2: Battery Depletion
Locomotives undergo frequent start-stop operations and endure long idle times. These cycles gradually wear on batteries, draining their voltage and decreasing reliability over time. Compounding this issue is the natural degradation of batteries, which weakens their lifespan and forces operators to spend heavily on replacements.
How KickStart Solves It
KickStart prevents excessive battery strain during start-ups. Its integrated Battery Management System (BMS) ensures batteries operate efficiently by avoiding deep discharges. What’s the result? A battery lifespan extended by up to 3x, fewer replacements, and lower overall costs.
Key Benefit: Extend battery life in locomotives for unmatched reliability and cost savings.
Challenge 3: Voltage Drops During Cranking
During engine cranking, a sudden voltage drop can wreak havoc on sensitive locomotive systems. Critical systems, such as electronics and controls, might reset or malfunction, affecting both engine starts and overall performance. These disruptions waste valuable time and compromise system functionality.
How KickStart Solves It
KickStart doesn’t just supply cranking power—it stabilizes the voltage throughout the process with its innovative Bus Boost™ feature. This ensures critical systems remain functional during starts, safeguarding electronics from power cycling and malfunctions.
Key Benefit: Protect vital locomotive electronics and improve overall system reliability.
Challenge 4: Unexpected Start Failures
Low battery levels and parasitic electrical loads are often the culprits behind start failures. These failures frequently happen at critical moments, leading to delays, unplanned downtime, and costly repairs.
How KickStart Solves It
With the One More Crank™ feature, KickStart reserves emergency power for critical start-ups by disconnecting non-essential electrical loads. This innovative feature ensures locomotives can always start, even at critically low battery levels.
Key Benefit: Reliable starts, even when battery power is dwindling—because every second counts.
Challenge 5: High Maintenance Costs and Downtime
Repeated start failures result in higher maintenance costs and unplanned downtime. With labor demands increasing to address these issues, rail operators bear significant financial burdens while their fleet underperforms.
How KickStart Solves It
By reducing battery strain and eliminating the root causes of start failures, KickStart ensures reliable locomotive performance. Operators experience fewer DWS events, leading to increased availability, lower maintenance costs, and more efficient fleet operation.
Key Benefit: Eliminate expensive downtime and reduce maintenance costs.
Why KickStart is Your Locomotive’s Best Bet
KickStart is more than a starting system—it’s a cutting-edge solution designed to meet the toughest demands of the rail industry. Equipped with supercapacitor technology and innovative features like Bus Boost™ and One More Crank™, KickStart doesn’t just solve starting problems; it transforms how locomotives perform.
Key Benefits of KickStart:
- Dependable Engine Starts: KickStart ensures reliable starts in all temperature conditions and operational scenarios.
- Extended Battery Life: By reducing wear and tear, KickStart prolongs battery life and minimizes the need for replacements.
- Higher Operational Efficiency: With fewer DWS events, fleets remain operational with improved uptime and availability.
- Lower Maintenance Costs: Reduced downtime translates to cost savings on maintenance and labor demands.
- Enhanced Fuel Efficiency: KickStart pairs seamlessly with Automatic Engine Start-Stop (AESS) systems to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.
KickStart has already been implemented on thousands of locomotives worldwide, earning a reputation for improving performance and saving rail operators millions in operational costs.
Drive Your Fleet’s Success with KickStart
Locomotive reliability is non-negotiable for efficient rail operations. Start failures, downtime, and battery issues are costly barriers to success. By addressing these challenges head-on, KickStart provides a game-changing solution. Its innovative design keeps rail fleets powered, reduces maintenance demands, and enables rail operators to meet their schedules without fail.
Are you ready to transform your fleet? Discover how KickStart can eliminate starting challenges, boost reliability, and elevate operational efficiency in your rail operations.
Contact us today to learn more or schedule a consultation with our team of experts—you’re one KickStart away from peak performance.