LiOn battery for eco-friendly trains on show at Railtex 2017

28th March 2017

Alice Matthews

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At Railtex 2017, Hoppecke Industrial Batteries will show for the first time in the UK its Lithium-Ion (LiOn) battery designed specifically for use in locomotives with hybrid drives. The new Lithium-Ion battery enables smaller diesel engines to be fitted to trains by embracing hybrid technology. This means that a locomotive's high-performance engines are only required when coupling the carriages, once the train is in motion just a small portion of power is needed.

When it was fitted to a DE60C hybrid train built by Gmeinder of Mosbach in Germany, the new battery enabled fuel savings of around 40% to be achieved and helped to reduce CO₂ pollution.

Charged by the train's on-board diesel generator, the Hoppecke battery supplies its stored energy to drive the locomotive and is capable of achieving 850kW peak power (in normal operation 600kW) and delivering this to the train's drive system. The set-up is based around Hoppecke's High-Voltage (HV) lithium modules which means it is possible to expand in a modular way to deliver higher performance as required.

The Hoppecke Lithium-Ion battery has a nominal voltage of 666V and a capacity of 138Ah which gives 92kWh of stored energy. It was designed to meet the exacting European Standard (EN50155) for electronic equipment used on railway rolling stock, with extra special attention given to the safety aspects, including enhanced protection against fire and explosion.

Since Hoppecke's new rail Lithium-Ion battery is also designed for use inside factories and tunnels, a special fire-proof housing with combustion gas purification has been developed in case of battery fire to ensure maximum safety. The battery also has its own built-in air conditioning capabilities to guarantee full power even in extreme operating conditions.

All LiOn battery systems from Hoppecke have a modular structure and consist either of 24 or 133V modular battery units - these can be used as individual blocks or installed as a group of modules to create larger battery systems up to 1MWh. The Lithium-Ion modules are available in versions offering high energy content or high power density. The compact and lightweight batteries also deliver a long cycle life, with over 3,500 cycles even at deep discharge levels.

Hoppecke's latest LiOn batteries can be assembled into energy storage systems of up to 1,000V and feature an integrated battery management system. They are also very quick to charge with a high current capability and incorporate active and passive heating/cooling to ensure optimal performance.

At Railtex 2017, Hoppecke will also be showing on stand R44 one of its NiCad battery systems along with exhibits of various other Hoppecke battery cell types.