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   Reference cycle for energy efficiency  evaluated  
Most tenders by manufacturers of railway vehicles specify only efficiency at payload and idling but not for a real operation scheme. A standardised set of reference cycles for energy efficiency could help to make the issue more transparent between industry and railway operators.
Technology field: Management and organisation
close main section General information
  close sub-section Description
   

Railway manufacturers usually specify energy efficiency of their products by giving efficiency at payload and/or idling losses. They are difficult to verify and do not tell much about the effective energy consumption in real operation. The reason is the strong dependence of efficiency on operation point (speed, force).

Some operators avoid this problem by including a specific operation profile in the call for tender. However, this makes only sense in cases where the planned field of application of ordered stock is very narrow or even restricted to one single line. More often this will be the case in smaller and/or less dense networks. If the operation profile is less specific, a standardised set of reference cycles for energy efficiency could help to make the issue more transparent between industry and railway operators.

For diesel stock reference cycles exist for exhaust emissions (UIC and EURO I-IV standards). In contrast, for electric stock no reference cycle exists which properly represents operation, i.e. there's no convenient way to compare the energy efficiency of an Alstom and a Bombardier locomotive. A standardised set of reference cycles accepted by all manufacturers would allow railway operators to effectively compare the energy efficiency of different products. At the same time it would provide a means of verification of manufacturer specifications. A reference cycle is a well-defined vehicle trajectory (e.g. run vehicle … kms in level topography with speed … and force …, then … kms in up-hill with a slope of … etc.) containing a representative weighting of load situations. Obviously there would have to be separate reference cycles for freight, high-speed, local operation.

close main section General criteria
  close sub-section Status of development: concept
    (no details available)
  Time horizon for broad application: in < 2 years
    The definition of generally accepted reference cycles for energy efficiency would require a lengthy consultation process between all actors involved (manufacturers and railway operators). Nevertheless, if the issue is put on the agenda immediately, a time horizon of two years seems reasonable.
  Expected technological development: basically exploited
    The verification of energy efficiency of individual stock according to reference cycles will mainly rely on calculation by manufacturers. The corresponding algorithms and simulation programmes may offer some potential for further refinement.
    Motivation:
   
  • Comparability of product specifications
  • Better controllability of LCC
  Benefits (other than environmental): medium
   
  • Better predictability of energy costs and LCC
  • Basis for penalty clauses between supplier and customer
  Barriers: low
   

Lengthy consultation process

International coordination effort between railways and industry could represent hurdle for a reference cycle.

Lack of applicability to concrete operation profile

Some calls for tender contain the specific operation profile envisaged for the ordered vehicles. This makes only sense in cases where the planned field of application is very narrow or even restricted to a single line. In this case, a standardised set of reference cycles for energy efficiency is useful only to a limited degree.

Excessive focus on particular operation profile

Some experts fear a reference cycle could lead to a narrow focus of optimising efforts of industry, comparable to what is happening with EURO I-IV emission standards.

Acceptance by manufacturers

Some manufacturers may not be interested in making energy efficiency of their products more transparent.

    Success factors:
   

Procedure

Before starting such an initiative, a well-planned procedure for setting up the reference cycles should be set up aiming at an efficient consultation process. The role of UIC and UNIFE etc. would have to be clarified early.

Local service as a starting point

Due to high comparability of operation characteristics, local trains are particularly well suited for reference cycle. It is therefore recommendable to first introduce reference cycle for local trains to raise acceptance for this concept.

  Applicability for railway segments: high
    Type of traction:  electric - DC, electric - AC, diesel
    Type of transportation:  passenger - main lines, passenger - high speed, passenger - regional lines, passenger - suburban lines, freight
    (no details available)
    Grade of diffusion into railway markets:
  Diffusion into relevant segment of fleet: not applicable
  Share of newly purchased stock: not applicable
    (no details available)
  Market potential (railways): not applicable
    (no details available)
    Example:
    (no details available)
close main section Environmental criteria
  close sub-section Impacts on energy efficiency:
  Energy efficiency potential for single vehicle: not applicable
  Energy efficiency potential throughout fleet: not applicable
    (no details available)
  Other environmental impacts: neutral
    (no details available)
close main section Economic criteria
  close sub-section Vehicle - fix costs: not applicable
    (no details available)
  Vehicle - running costs: not applicable
    Energy and thus running costs would be more predictable.
  Infrastructure - fix costs: none
    (no details available)
  Infrastructure - running costs: unchanged
    (no details available)
  Scale effects: not applicable
    (no details available)
  Amortisation: not applicable
    (no details available)
no data available Application outside railway sector (this technology is railway specific)
close main section Overall rating
  close sub-section Overall potential: promising
  Time horizon: short-term
    A standardised set of reference cycles for energy efficiency of rolling stock would increase comparability and thus transparency of manufacturers' specifications. This would enhance competition in this field. Although not useful in all purchasing projects, reference cycles are a promising short-term instrument to make energy performance more relevant in railway procurement.
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 date created: 2002-10-09
 
 
© UIC - International Union of Railways 2003
 
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