RAIL INDUSTRY FEATURE


UK’s first battery powered train gets green signal


YOUR RAILWAY PA I


n a deal that secures a long term future for battery-powered trains


in the UK, Hoppecke Industrial Batteries and Vivarail have confirmed that they will be working together to design and integrate batteries to power Vivarail's Class 230 passenger trains. In October this year, Vivarail


launched the UK's first passenger train powered by a mobile charging unit developed by Hoppecke. The train carried hundreds of passengers on an arduous route across Scotland. The event demonstrated that Hoppecke's Lithium-ion batteries are suited to the challenging routes, providing the rapid charging needed for battery-powered journeys. Adrian Shooter, CEO of Vivarail, says, “Together with Hoppecke we will be able to provide our customers with battery trains that are reliable, quick to market and with a rapidly increasing range.” The Class 230 train utilises Hoppecke's Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which stores electrical energy and then, when the train comes into a station, pumps 1MW of energy in just eight minutes - sufficient to provide a robust 65 mile range. New information was collected on the Scottish route, allowing Vivarail and Hoppecke to assess performance data for the batteries. The train also benefits from regenerative braking, absorbing the energy used in braking and regenerating it back to power the train.


Simulations and performance data show that many non-electrified routes can be operated by the Class 230 battery trains for emission-free travel. This means that the costs of both infrastructure upgrades and daily operation are hugely minimised - in some cases by millions of pounds. Jon Bailey, managing director of Hoppecke UK, says, “We have developed a strong, collaborative relationship and were excited to develop our BESS mobile charging unit for the project when Vivarail launched the only battery-powered train available in the UK earlier this year. We know that Vivarail intends to put battery technology at the heart of its design for the foreseeable future and are delighted to be part of that innovation.” In light of the UK Government's


aims to phase out diesel trains by 2040, battery-powered trains are an emission-free alternative for economic rail travel, especially in areas where electrification is either non or only partially existent. The trains are particularly well suited to urban routes where authorities wish to eliminate pollution caused by traditional DMUs as well as scenic lines where the natural environment needs protecting. Currently, Vivarail is building a fleet of diesel/battery hybrids for Transport for Wales, where the diesel gensets will be used to charge the batteries, not to power the train.


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