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   Batteries (storage technology)  evaluated  
Batteries (or accumulators) are electrochemical energy storage devices used for a wide variety of purposes. Compared to other storage devices batteries have very high energy densities, but low power density and therefore high charging times. Some modern high performance batteries do however reach power densities that are promising for braking energy storage in automotive and (to a smaller extent) railway applications.
Technology field: Regenerative braking and energy management
open main section General information
close main section General criteria
  close sub-section Status of development: concept
    (no details available)
  Time horizon for broad application: (no data)
    When it comes to railway applications, today’s batteries fall behind flywheels and supercapacitors. Therefore broad application in railways seems doubtful but not impossible if future batteries improve substantially in performance.
  Expected technological development: highly dynamic
    Although batteries have existed for a long time, there is potential both for further advances of existing battery types and for the development of entirely new concepts.
    Motivation:
   

Energy saving
  Benefits (other than environmental): not applicable
   

Depends on application context.

Cf. Stationary energy storage in DC systems, Diesel-electric vehicles with energy storage and On-board energy storage in DC systems.
  Barriers: high
    Mainly performance characteristics of today's batteries and high costs.
    Success factors:
    (no details available)
  Applicability for railway segments: medium
    Type of traction:  electric - DC, electric - AC, diesel
    Type of transportation:  passenger - regional lines, passenger - suburban lines
    Applicability depends on specific application context. Whereas present power densities of batteries are sufficient for a use in hybrid electric cars, for railway applications the required battery capacity would add too much weight to the vehicle and need too much space. An energy storage based on batteries is therefore presently not cost-efficient in rail vehicles. Further developments in battery technology could however facilitate a railway application in long-term perspective.
    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): (no data)
    Applicability to railways is presently too doubtful to assess the corresponding market potential.
    Example:
   

 
open main section Environmental criteria
open main section Economic criteria
open main section Application outside railway sector
open main section Overall rating
References / Links:  Caputo 2000;  Hennig, Stephanblome 2000;  Hentschel et al. 2000;  US Department of Energy
Attachments:
Related projects:  Studies performed on energy storage systems
Contact persons:
 date created: 2002-10-09
 
 
© UIC - International Union of Railways 2003
 
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