Wabtec Begins Trial of Transit Rail Industry’s First Environmentally Friendly Air Conditioning System

GENNEVILLIERS, France Oct. 1, 2020 — Wabtec (NYSE: WAB) begins trial of the transit rail industry’s first air conditioning system using natural R290 refrigerant, a clean and environmentally friendly option. This Wabtec Green Air technology is part of the company’s initiative to bring clean, sustainable solutions to the transit market.

“Transit authorities continually look for opportunities to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations,” said Lilian Leroux, President of Wabtec’s Transit business. “Traditional synthetic refrigerants provide a cool, comfortable environment for passengers, but those options are not healthy for the environment.”

The refrigerant R290 used in the Green Air system has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 3. Traditional heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems use synthetic refrigerants, such as R-134a, which has a GWP of 1430. These high-GWP refrigerants trap substantially more heat in the atmosphere than the natural R290-based solutions.

“Green Air also provides economic benefits for our operators,” said Leroux. “The solution meets the long-term regulatory requirements, eliminating the need for costly equipment changes to adhere to environmental standards. The Green Air technology also can be integrated seamlessly into the infrastructure of today’s train systems and offers excellent cooling and heat pump operation for all climatic zones.”

The company is conducting a 12-month operational trial of the Green Air system on a Deutsche Bahn regional train. The trial will validate the passenger comfort, maintenance and cost effectiveness of the system in regular operations.

Wabtec is a leading supplier of air conditioning systems for the transit industry. The Green Air system was developed at Wabtec’s center of competence in Leipzig, Germany and will be manufactured at its plant in Pilsen, Czech Republic.

About Wabtec

Wabtec Corporation is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for freight and transit rail. Drawing on nearly four centuries of collective experience across Wabtec, GE Transportation and Faiveley Transport, the company has unmatched digital expertise, technological innovation, and world-class manufacturing and services, enabling the digital-rail-and-transit ecosystems. Wabtec is focused on performance that drives progress, creating transportation solutions that move and improve the world. The freight portfolio features a comprehensive line of locomotives, software applications and a broad selection of mission-critical controls systems, including Positive Train Control (PTC). The transit portfolio provides highly engineered systems and services to virtually every major rail transit system around the world, supplying an integrated series of components for buses and all train-related market segments that deliver safety, efficiency and passenger comfort. Along with its industry-leading portfolio of products and solutions for the rail and transit industries, Wabtec is a leader in mining, marine and industrial solutions. Wabtec has approximately 27,000 employees in facilities throughout the world. Visit the company’s new website at: www.WabtecCorp.com.