Stadler is working on a modular, scalable battery system for passenger trains.
This is being developed in partnership with the German Aerospace Center, the DLR Institute for Vehicle Concepts and the DLR Institute for Networks,
The project has received 5.3 million EUR (5.57m USD) in funding from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport.
The ‘modular, scalable energy storage for sustainable local rail passenger transport’ (MOSENAS) project is working on a battery system that can be adapted to suit specific route types by using different battery types and performance characteristics.
Doing so can save weight and therefore reduce energy consumption, which can make battery-electric operations a more accessible option on railway lines where it’s not feasible to equip overhead lines for financial or technical reasons.
As part of the MOSENAS project, the partners are also analysing which routes and stations without OLE could be economically electrified in order to develop systems customised for different vehicle and infrastructure setups.
The battery systems can be tailored to vehicle rotations, operating times and the existing charging infrastructure, which also allows expected service life of the system to be optimised.
Furthermore, the modular concept also enables the integration of future battery technologies or fuel cells.
With safety a top priority in railway operations, the partners are currently working on developing warning indicators to detect and monitor critical battery conditions, as well creating efficient fire protection strategies and storage solutions.
Research is also being undertaken into how the systems can best be charged quickly in in train stations, depots or on overhead lines without putting extra strain on the public power grid.
Solutions currently being considered include second-use batteries in stationary storage systems.
