Canadian Pacific plans to develop North America’s first line-haul hydrogen-powered locomotive, Kallanish reports.

The company, in a new pilot project, will retrofit a road locomotive with hydrogen fuel cells and batteries to drive the locomotive’s electric traction motors. Once operational, CP will conduct rail-service trials and qualification testing to evaluate the hydrogen technology’s readiness for freight-rail service.

“This is a globally significant project that positions CP at the leading edge of decarbonising the freight transportation sector,” says president and ceo Keith Creel in a statement.

The project builds on CP’s previous work at testing low-emitting locomotive technologies including biofuels, compressed natural gas and battery-powered solutions, the company says.

Today nearly the entire freight locomotive fleet of all railway operators in North America consists of diesel-powered units, representing the industry’s major source of greenhouse gas emissions, says the rail company with headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. It reports that it has improved locomotive fuel efficiency by more than 40% since 1990.