A Class 802 electro-diesel inter-city trainset which has been retrofitted with a battery in place of one of its three engines is being tested by Hitachi Rail, operator TransPennine Express and leasing company Angel Trains.
The battery will provide top-up power for peak demand and give regenerative braking capability when the trainset is operating in diesel mode. It will also enable the trainset to enter and leave non-electrified stations using battery power, improving air quality and reducing noise. It is expected to reduce emissions and fuel costs by up to 30%.
Trials planned for later this year aim to provide real-world evidence to inform the business case for a battery-electric trainset which would be capable of running up to 100 km in battery mode on non-electrified sections of inter-city routes. This could reduce the need to install expensive 25 kV 50 Hz overhead electrification in tunnels and at complex junctions.
Continue to rest of Hitachi tests battery train as a potential rail decarbonisation pathway