Wabtec's FLXdrive is described as the world's first 100% battery-powered locomotive. It uses 18000 lithium-ion batteries to power all four axes, and uses intelligent energy flow management to optimize efficiency.
It is reported that this 2.4 MWh system can be charged in the parking lot like an electric car, but it can also be fully charged by using a regenerative braking system while driving. In contrast, the highest specification Tesla Model 3 has a capacity of 75 kWh, which is 1/32 of FLXdrive. There is no doubt that this system will need a huge charging station.
As part of the hybrid system, FLXdrive was tested for three months in San Joaquin Valley, California, where it covered more than 65,438+03,320 miles (265,438+0,400 kilometers) of hilly terrain. According to Wabtec data, the fuel consumption of the whole train is reduced by 1 1% on average, which is equivalent to saving 6,200 gallons of diesel, or about 69 tons of carbon dioxide.
Eric Gebhardt, chief technology officer of Wabtec, said: "FLXdrive battery electric locomotive is a decisive moment for freight railway, which will accelerate the development of the industry to low-emission to zero-emission locomotives. It is based on the status of the railway industry as the most effective and sustainable mode of transportation. "
"Based on our long-term leading train energy management technology, this demonstration of coupling 2.4 MWh battery storage to hybrid energy fully verified our hypothesis that the next generation technology can further improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions." He added.
Wabtec hopes to launch a bigger and better version based on these promising results, and increase the capacity to more than 6 MWh, which is expected to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 30%. The company said that it plans to commercialize this second-generation FLXdrive locomotive and hopes to expand it to freight routes in the next few years.