A public-private partnership is developing the next-generation in battery train technology. Led by Hitachi Rail, the collaboration is creating a new battery pack that is lighter and smaller so it can be installed on commuter and suburban trains, while still maintaining impressive power.
The battery pack that is being developed will build upon and complement the pioneering intercity battery technology that is currently being trialled on the Transpennine route and adapted for a regional train. The battery being developed will be 40% smaller and deliver a 22% improvement in energy density.
The ability to deliver impressive power from a smaller battery is achieved by using cutting-edge LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery chemistry. Collaborating with Sunderland-based battery supplier, Turntide Technologies, means Hitachi can bring the latest in automotive battery technology to the rail industry.
A smaller battery is essential to achieve inclusive design for lower floor trains and level access at platforms. Lower floors provide less space for batteries, making this project an important next step in promoting train accessibility.
A smaller and powerful battery can further reduce weight and make maintenance and the industrial retrofitting process easier. These benefits and learnings will also be incorporated into the intercity battery train product that is being trialled. This ensures that Hitachi Rail will have the next generation of battery solutions for regional and intercity trains.
DB ESG are supporting the project by leading the design of the battery enclosure to house the battery, including fire protection, cooling capability and electrical integration. Building on the knowledge gained in designing the enclosure for the intercity battery trial, the battery enclosure has been designed to make maintenance simpler and more efficient.
The Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) at the University of Birmingham is optimising the design and usage of the battery, with railway simulations to validate the battery performance on representative UK routes, including railways in the North of England.
The partnership will allow BCRRE to further enhance the capability of their existing railway simulator, improving the knowledge and skills base for future students and graduates at the university.
The GBP 1.4 million R&D comprises of match funding from both the private sector and public sector, with Innovate UK co-funding the project to encourage new UK battery innovation, inclusivity in the railway and combined with enabling new skills and experience at University of Birmingham.
“The acceleration of battery innovation is incredible. This is why at Hitachi, we use our expertise from Italy, Japan, and the UK to ensure our partners remain at the forefront of battery technology. This continuous improvement means we are always working on the next generation of smaller and more powerful batteries to reduce cost on railways by negating electrification infrastructure spend or removing diesel engines entirely. Meanwhile our partnership with Innovate UK and University of Birmingham means Hitachi is playing an active role in growing new skills in the British battery sector, while also developing battery solutions that can be used on railways across the globe,” said Koji Agatsuma, Chief Technology Officer Vehicles, Hitachi Rail.
“This proposed project includes a comprehensive research programme aimed at optimising the design and the usage of the battery when the train travels in the non-electrified parts of the network. We will provide our expertise with railway simulations to investigate the routes for which batteries are the most effective in replacing diesel trains. This will accelerate the decarbonisation of rail transport in the regional sector, benefiting many passengers in the UK who use the train for work and for social activities,” professor Pietro Tricoli, lead in Power Electronics at the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education at the University of Birmingha, adds.
More Hitachi Rail battery trains to roll out in the coming years
This important project draws upon Hitachi’s global expertise which includes delivering the world’s first passenger battery train in Japan, and rolling out the Masaccio, Europe’s first battery hybrid train in Italy in 2022. The evolution of the technology continues at pace with Hitachi Rail recently unveiling its new intercity version of the train, and with a target to roll out a EuroMasaccio in additional European markets, including Germany from 2026.
Hitachi is also fully digitising their battery solutions for rail. This provides data to optimise battery use, emissions reduction, and life-cycle asset management. This enables Hitachi to offer a ‘battery as a service’ that can be tailored for customers needs.
The development of this battery is an important step for the rail industry both home and abroad. Using our battery expertise in UK, Japan and Italy, Hitachi Rail has an ambition to install this battery on trains around the world, potentially creating a UK export and improving energy efficiency.
On 24-27 September, Hitachi Rail will exhibit a range of its smart mobility solutions at the global rail exhibition, InnoTrans in Berlin.
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