Former SpaceX Engineers Push The Boundaries Of Rail
Parallel Systems, a Los Angeles-based company founded by former SpaceX engineers, has introduced the second generation of its autonomous electric rail cars designed to transport shipping containers. The innovation aims to offer a greener alternative to freight transportation and address the commercial truck driver shortage. According to Matt Soule, co-founder and CEO, these rail cars are “not” intended to replace freight trains but rather to shift trucking activity to rail, increasing the efficiency and sustainability of cargo transport.
The electric rail cars, each able to carry a maximum payload of 70,000 pounds, are self-powered and can travel in “platoons” of up to 50 cars. Unlike traditional train cars that couple together, these cars move closely and maintain a set force through bumpers, which reduces aerodynamic drag and enhances energy efficiency. They can cover about 500 miles between charges, making them suitable for “drayage”—the short-distance transport of shipping containers from ports to inland locations, a role usually fulfilled by trucks.
Soule emphasized the environmental benefits of this shift to rail. He estimates that converting 100,000 trucking miles to their zero-emission rail vehicles could eliminate up to 175 tons of CO2 emissions. The technology is designed to be compatible with existing rail systems, equipped with advanced sensors, radios, and computers to ensure safety and non-interference with conventional freight trains. The company even claims their braking system allows the rail cars to stop at a tenth of the distance needed by a traditional freight train, making them safer in terms of stopping distance.
Parallel Systems has already produced three second-generation vehicles and received nearly $4.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. They have been undergoing various tests since November 2022 and are in discussions with several railroads for further testing.
The company leverages existing auto industry technologies for self-driving and electric cars, confident that these can be effectively re-purposed for railway use. The focus remains on reducing the environmental impact of freight transport and alleviating the shortage of truck drivers by encouraging a modal shift from road to rail.
