E-MOBILITY
minutes, and the battery is capable of enabling crucial regenerative braking which is a key element in hybrid trains. When there isn’t the time or ability to refuel the diesel tank, you can charge the battery through braking and use the energy again for acceleration. We see this as a big advantage.” Alongside its rapid charging
capabilities, the new traction battery provides a long lifetime with over 20,000 cycles. The Traction Battery Pro’s fast charging element also yields signifi cant fuel savings for hybrid trains, thanks to an accompanying high-performance lithium-ion based onboard energy storage system. “We have proven that you can
achieve more than 30% fuel savings - depending on the network – which equates to around one in three trains running for free,” Keller explains. “From a comfort perspective, this is also a benefi t for passengers as there is low noise levels, acceleration is smooth, and there are no fumes or emissions in tunnels, and so on. The passenger can feel like they are on a fully electric train, despite being on a hybrid one. The new battery is able to charge and discharge very fast with limited losses, and can also operate in very low temperatures. The compactness of the battery also allows for more space for passengers.” The new generation of the Traction
Battery Pro is engineered to provide both modularity and scalability to operators, as well as best-in-class performance. The battery is also designed with high levels of safety in mind, and features enhanced energy density in a compact design. Combined with ABB’s eff icient propulsion system and advanced digital tools, the entire system is optimised for better performance. According to Keller, the battery’s
capabilities will help to bridge the time before hydrogen – or something better – becomes more available to take decarbonisation to the next level. “There’s much hype around
hydrogen, but many are realising that this will take time,” he says. “It’s expensive, especially if we’re talking about green hydrogen, and it will take a huge eff ort to bring this through. And then there is the question of transportation, it’s not like diesel that you can fi ll up in a
We have proven that you can
achieve more than 30% fuel savings - depending on the network – which equates to around one in three trains running for free
The Traction Battery Pro series at Innotrans 2024
tank, it’s more complex than that. So, today we need to bridge the time until we have suff icient green hydrogen infrastructure. This is where hybridisation of diesel trains is key, especially with the fuel savings we are able to achieve with the Traction Battery Pro.” Alongside applications in hybrid
trains, ABB is also exploring the use of traction batteries in trams which can run without catenaries for short distances, in a bid to improve infrastructure fl exibility. According to Keller, the near-term focus should be on eff icient solutions that meet the increasing demand for public transport, without overloading the grid. “Regarding electrifi cation, everyone
is talking about the electric car, but the railway has been electric for 100 years - this is nothing new for us,” Keller adds. “Now, it’s a question of balance; what you can run with batteries, when does it make sense to have a catenary on top, and so on. It’s an evolution, and we certainly should not wait for hydrogen fuel to change everything as it will not happen overnight. Electric technology is available today, and there is huge potential in these projects to improve the sustainability of rail.”
For more information visit:
https://new.abb.com/railway
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