By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
Hybrid cars not good enough for you? Japan is set to launch a hybrid diesel-electric train, which begins regular runs on Tuesday.
Following its runaway success with hybrid cars, Japan is bringing the world hybrid trains. Regular passenger runs are set to begin Tuesday on a short mountain route, the first time a diesel-electric hybrid train will be put into commercial service. It has a diesel engine, two electric motors under each car and lithium ion batteries on the roof.
The diesel engine only kicks in with a rumble when needed to climb a hill or if the batteries run low. Source: Business Week
We Say: Much as with a hybrid car, this is more expensive than a normal train … though in this case it’s about 2x the price of a normal train. Fuel efficiency is increased by about 20 percent and emissions reduced by up to 60 percent. The batteries, once again much like a hybrid car, are recharged when the train slows.
Canadians beat them to it two years ago…
http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/railroad/2005/0406_hybrid.shtml
Except that one actually costed LESS than it’s conventional diesel-electric counterpart.
It’s important to recognise the difference between a hybrid locomotive, as “green goats” in the US, and trains for passenger service.
This train from Japan is the world’s first diesel-battery hybrid multiple unit train for passenger operation.
Hitachi are currently running the world’s first hybrid high speed passenger train in the UK.
For more details on Hitachi’s hybrid traction technology see http://www.hitachi-rail.com