Hitachi Rail presented its new Battery Electric Multiple Unit (BEMU) Intercity at InnoTrans 2026.
Built at Hitachi Rail’s sites in Pistoia and Naples, the train is the first fully battery-electric unit intended for passenger service in Italy.
The BEMU can run on electrified lines as well as on sections with no external power supply, with Trenitalia ordering six units under its existing framework agreement with Hitachi Rail for Blues regional trains.
Hitachi Rail quotes a battery range of up to 100 km and estimates that CO₂ emissions can be cut by as much as 70% compared with current diesel trains.
The batteries on board the trains allow them to make the switch between drawing power from overhead lines and running autonomously.
Two pantographs enable fast charging during stops, with a full recharge taking around 30 minutes. The train has a top speed of 160 km/h, accelerates at 1.10 m/s², and seats 200 passengers.
Passengers can experience a bright, accessible space inside the train, thanks to the large windows. There is also LED lighting both inside and outside the cabin, and passengers are also able to enjoy air conditioning, which adjusts its output to the actual number of people travelling.
The train was built by Hitachi using highly recyclable materials, strengthening its environmental credentials. This environmentally friendly, low-emission rolling stock gives operators a way to extend electric operation onto routes where full electrification is not yet in place.
