Electric train battery systems for smarter, lower-emission rail mobility
Forsee Power develops electric train battery systems for railway manufacturers and integrators looking to electrify rolling stock, reduce fuel consumption and enable operation beyond continuously electrified lines.
Our smart battery systems support a wide range of rail applications, from battery-electric and hybrid trains to trams, locomotives, shunting locomotives and railway maintenance vehicles.
Combining high-energy and high-power battery technologies with proprietary battery management and thermal management expertise, Forsee Power provides scalable solutions tailored to each vehicle and operating profile.
Smart batteries accelerating rail decarbonization
Rail is already one of the most efficient modes of transport, but many trains and locomotives still operate on non-electrified routes or require an additional energy source when overhead power is unavailable.
Electric train batteries provide a flexible way to address these challenges. Onboard energy storage can enable electric traction on non-electrified sections, support hybrid operation, recover braking energy and reduce reliance on diesel engines.
By intelligently managing energy throughout the operating cycle, battery systems can help reduce fuel consumption and emissions while improving the energy efficiency and operational flexibility of rolling stock.
From demonstration to real-world rail operation
Battery and hybrid rail technologies are moving from demonstration projects to commercial operation. Forsee Power has been contributing to this transition for several years, with battery systems already operating in commercial rail applications.
Four regional hybrid trains equipped with Forsee Power technology have been operating in commercial service for several years. In this application, the battery system supports hybrid operation and braking energy recovery, delivering more than 20% fuel savings.
Forsee Power technology is also supporting the development of catenary-free tramways. Bozankaya selected Forsee Power battery systems for new trams designed for Timișoara, enabling up to 70 km of catenary-free operation using energy stored onboard.
In North America, MEDCOM selected Forsee Power to supply battery systems for more than 55 tramways for a major US city. The program includes 110 PULSE 26 PLUS RAIL systems, enabling the vehicles to combine overhead power with onboard energy storage for operation across catenary-free sections.
These projects demonstrate how railway batteries are becoming an industrial solution for commercial rolling stock, designed to meet demanding requirements for performance, reliability and availability.
ZEN and PULSE: high-energy and high-power rail battery solutions
Rail applications can require very different combinations of energy, power and cycling capability. Forsee Power addresses these requirements with two complementary battery technologies.
ZEN LFP RAIL is designed for applications requiring high onboard energy capacity and long operating life, making it particularly suited to electric and hybrid rail applications.
PULSE PLUS RAIL is designed for high-power and intensive cycling applications, including hybrid operation, regenerative braking and catenary-free operation.
Together, these solutions enable Forsee Power to define the battery architecture best suited to each vehicle, duty cycle and operating environment.
One electric train battery architecture for every rail application
The energy requirements of a tram, regional train or locomotive are fundamentally different. Each application has its own constraints in terms of energy, power, operating cycles, charging strategy, environment, available space and expected battery lifetime.
Forsee Power therefore develops scalable battery architectures tailored to the vehicle and its duty cycle.
Our railway battery systems can support:
- Battery-electric traction on non-electrified railway lines
- Hybridization of diesel trains and locomotives
- Catenary-free and partially electrified operation
- Auxiliary power supply
- Shunting and railway maintenance applications
- High-power applications for trams and other demanding rail vehicles
This system-level approach allows the battery architecture to be optimized according to the specific performance and operational requirements of each railway project.
Smart battery systems beyond energy storage
The performance of an electric train battery depends on much more than the cells themselves. Electrical architecture, battery management, thermal management, energy strategy and vehicle integration all contribute to the performance and lifetime of the complete system.
Forsee Power develops smart battery systems designed to manage these interactions throughout vehicle operation. Our proprietary battery management technology monitors and controls the battery while the overall system architecture supports efficient energy use under real operating conditions.
The battery can manage successive acceleration and braking phases, recover and store energy, complement the vehicle’s main energy source and adapt its operation to the vehicle duty cycle.
As a result, the battery becomes an active part of the train’s energy strategy, contributing to energy efficiency, battery lifetime and rolling stock availability.
Rail battery expertise throughout the vehicle lifecycle
There is no single solution for railway electrification. Depending on infrastructure, routes and operating requirements, rolling stock may combine overhead electrification, onboard batteries, hybrid powertrains and charging infrastructure.
Forsee Power works with railway manufacturers and system integrators from the definition of the energy architecture through battery integration and operation.
Our expertise covers battery system design, proprietary BMS technology, thermal management, industrialization and long-term support. Once vehicles enter service, our after-sales capabilities provide diagnostics, maintenance and repair support to help maintain battery performance and vehicle availability throughout operations.
With ZEN LFP RAIL and PULSE PLUS RAIL, Forsee Power provides smart battery solutions for trams, regional trains, locomotives, shunting locomotives and railway maintenance vehicles, supporting the transition towards more efficient, flexible and less fossil-fuel-dependent rolling stock.
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