The first test trial in Britain’s history of a diesel-powered train retrofitted with a battery took place last Friday.
The train’s battery unit, which generates a peak power of more than 700kw, was successfully retrofitted onto a TransPennine Express ‘Nova 1’ train that ran between Sunderland and Newcastle in England’s far northeast.
The test is a collaboration between TransPennine Express, (which runs the trains) Angel Trains, (which makes the carriages) Turntide Technologies, (which manufactures the batteries) and Hitachi Rail, a Japanese railway firm that runs trains in Britain, is involved as an R&D partner, and which also helped with the battery technology.
The single battery unit stores enough electricity to power more than 75 houses for a day. This impressive energy and power density will deliver the same levels of high-speed acceleration and performance while being no heavier than the diesel engine it replaces.
The installation of a battery will reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency. It’s also predicted to reduce emissions and fuel costs by as much as 30% on a Hitachi intercity train.
“We’re really pleased to be a part of this innovative and critically important trial of battery technology,” said Paul Staples, Engineering, Safety and Sustainability Director at TransPennine Express. “We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and are constantly looking at ways of making rail travel even more sustainable and efficient.”
Most importantly for passengers, the trial will test how intercity trains can enter, alight, and leave non-electrified stations in zero-emission battery mode to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.
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The trial will provide real-world evidence to inform the business case for a 100% battery-electric intercity train, capable of traveling up to 60 miles in battery mode. This range means the battery technology could be deployed to cover the final non-electrified sections of intercity routes in the coming years.
It will hopefully demonstrate how battery technology can reduce infrastructure costs by reducing the need for overhead wires in tunnel sections and over complex junctions.
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“We are incredibly proud to be part of this ground-breaking project, co-developing one of the world’s most powerful passenger train batteries with our esteemed partners at Hitachi Rail,” said Mark Cox, General Manager of Turntide Technologies transport business unit.
“The successful development and production of this high-performance battery at our Sunderland facility further highlights the key role we play in the UK’s industrial landscape. We believe this clean technology will revolutionize the rail industry, not only in the UK but around the globe.”
The retrofit comes in advance of the tests for the whole train slated for this summer.
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