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Image Credit: Hitachi
Hitachi Rail has joined forces with a coalition of clean tech pioneers, including Turntide Technologies, DB ESG, and BCRRE, in an ambitious £1.4m project to revolutionize train battery technology. The goal? To create smaller, lighter, and more efficient battery packs that can be more easily adopted across the rail network.
The batteries, now in development, utilize advanced lithium iron phosphate chemistry. According to the Japanese-owned manufacturer, this breakthrough promises to deliver exceptional power while reducing the overall size of the battery packs—a game-changer for retrofitting Britain's diesel-powered trains. Many of these trains, with lower floors, have limited space for bulky batteries, making the new designs particularly attractive for upgrades.
Hitachi Rail is betting on replacing diesel engines with powerful batteries, which could significantly lower the cost of rail electrification compared to installing expensive overhead lines. This strategy offers a more affordable and environmentally friendly path to decarbonizing railways worldwide.
The project builds on the success of Hitachi's ongoing intercity battery trials, currently running on Transpennine trains in the North East and North West of England. These trials mark the first time in the UK that a diesel engine has been swapped out for a battery in an intercity train, reducing emissions and operational costs by up to 30%.
However, today's announcement takes innovation even further. The new battery packs are designed to be 40% smaller than the current models in testing and have a 22% improvement in energy density. This technological leap could drastically reshape the future of rail transport.
Koji Agatsuma, Hitachi Rail's Chief Technology Officer, praised the rapid advancements in battery technology, calling the innovation "incredible."
"This continuous improvement means we are always working on the next generation of smaller and more powerful batteries to reduce cost on railways by negating electrification infrastructure spend or removing diesel engines entirely," he said.
The UK trials build on the success of Hitachi's Masaccio battery hybrid train, first launched in Italy in 2022. This train managed to slash carbon emissions by 50% compared to the diesel trains it replaced. This significant achievement is now paving the way for further advancements in rail battery technology.
Today, the £1.4m research and development initiative is a collaborative effort with private and public funding. Innovate UK, a government-backed agency is co-funding the project to drive UK-based innovation in battery technology.
As part of this ambitious endeavor, Hitachi Rail has partnered with Sunderland-based automotive battery supplier Turntide Technologies. Additionally, DB ESG, a rail consultancy, has been brought on board to spearhead the design of the battery enclosure, incorporating essential safety features such as fire protection and cooling systems.
The University of Birmingham's Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) is also contributing its expertise, tasked with optimizing the battery's design and operational use as the project moves forward. Together, these partners aim to shape the future of rail transportation with cutting-edge battery technology.
Professor Pietro Tricoli, the BCRRE's lead in power electronics, said the proposed project includes "a comprehensive research programme aimed at optimising the design and the usage of the battery when the train travels in the non-electrified parts of the network."
"We will provide our expertise with railway simulations to investigate the routes for which batteries are the most effective in replacing diesel trains," he added. "This will accelerate the decarbonisation of rail transport in the regional sector, benefiting many passengers in the UK who use the train for work and for social activities."
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