Electrification of trains takes on a new form – battery-electric versions can now replace diesel series-hybrids.
Alstom announced this month its first contract for battery-electric regional trains in Germany for the Leipzig-Chemnitz route, which requires the train to cover 80 km (50 miles) of non-electrified track.
The company will deliver 11 Coradia Continental BEMU trains starting from 2023, which will be ready for the job, driving on its own power or using catenary to recharge.
The deal, including maintenance until 2032, is worth approximately €100 million ($109 million).
“The new trains will enter service in 2023. They will be built at Alstom’s German site of Salzgitter, in Lower Saxony. The battery traction sub-system is designed and supplied by Alstom’s traction centre of excellence in Tarbes.”
Alstom didn’t reveal the battery capacity, but we guess it must be at least a few hundred kWh for the 80 km (50 miles) range in a worst-case scenario (even after 10 years). The maximum configuration is for 120 km (75 miles).
“The Coradia Continental BEMU trains will be similar to those already in service on the Dresden, Riesa and Zwickau routes. The main difference: they will also have high-performance batteries on the roof. The train, based on the proven Coradia Continental, builds on Alstom’s long experience in battery traction, gained with the Coradia iLint, Citadis trams and the Prima H3 locomotive.”
Alstom Coradia Continental BEMU specs:
three-car-train, 56 meters long, equipped with 150 seats
range under battery power of up to 120 km (75 miles)
top speed of 160 km/h (100 mph)
Besides the standard electric trains and battery electric trains, the company offers also hydrogen fuel cell trains (so far two operators ordered 14 and 27 FCVs):
“Alstom’s Coradia range allows operators and transport authorities to offer their passengers regional trains that meet their needs and expectations, while demonstrating exemplary reliability and cost-effectiveness. Alstom has tailored the Coradia range to operate with all available emission-free power systems, from electric to battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cells. The latter, the Coradia iLint, powered by fuel cells and offering performance comparable to a diesel train while emitting nothing but water, has been in passenger service in Germany for over a year.”
