Friday, May 31, 2024 Hitachi Rail got 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 s.
