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   Diesel-electric vehicles with energy storage  evaluated  
Modern energy storage devices permit the storage of braking energy on-board for use in the subsequent acceleration phase. This offers the possibility of an effective brake energy recovery in diesel-electric vehicles. Furthermore the peak demands on the diesel engines are reduced allowing for both downsizing of engine layout and better load management of diesel engines.
Technology field: Regenerative braking and energy management
open main section General information
close main section General criteria
  close sub-section Status of development: test series
    For the Alstom LIREX (Light Innovative Regional Express) a version featuring a fly-wheel storage system is planned. However, the implementation had to be delayed recently since the development of the 6 kWh fly-wheel ran into difficulties (cf. fly-wheel).
  Time horizon for broad application: in > 10 years
   

A wide-spread integration of on-board storage systems into diesel-electric vehicles seems doubtful since payback is critical for regional service with relatively long distances between stations.
  Expected technological development: highly dynamic
    Technological developments will come mainly from storage technologies (cf. flywheel, double-layer capacitors).
    Motivation:
    Energy savings
  Benefits (other than environmental): medium
   

Downsizing of energy supply

The load of the supply system (diesel engine) is equalized and thus reduced, which allows for a smaller layout of the diesel engine/generator system.
  Barriers: medium
   

Technological

Storage technologies are starting to become mature but lifespans are often still a problem.

Vehicle mass

The storage system increases vehicle mass.

Costs

High investment costs and long payback periods.

Complexity

Operators are reluctant to purchase trains with higher complexity, since this could decrease availability and reliability and always requires additional know-how.
    Success factors:
    An important factor is the cost of diesel fuel serving as a reference parameter. In the predictable future the diesel price is more likely to rise than fall, thus improving the perspectives for energy storage on diesel-electric vehicles.
  Applicability for railway segments: medium
    Type of traction:  diesel
    Type of transportation:  passenger - main lines, passenger - regional lines, passenger - suburban lines
    It is evident, that energy storage shows best benefits and payback for local and regional trains with frequent stops (many storage cycles!). The system described here is fitted to diesel-electric stock, but storage systems are also discussed for DC systems (cf. On-board energy storage in DC systems).
    Grade of diffusion into railway markets:
  Diffusion into relevant segment of fleet: 0 %
  Share of newly purchased stock: 0 %
    (no details available)
  Market potential (railways): medium
    (no details available)
    Example:
    Alstom LIREX (in the near future a version featuring a fly-wheel storage system will be built)
open main section Environmental criteria
open main section Economic criteria
no data available Application outside railway sector (this technology is railway specific)
open main section Overall rating
References / Links:  Hentschel et al. 2000;  Hesse et al. 1997;  Witthuhn, Hoerl 2001
Attachments:
Related projects:  Flytrain
Contact persons:
 date created: 2002-10-09
 
 
© UIC - International Union of Railways 2003
 
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