Vivarail and HOPPECKE will be working together to design and integrate batteries for Vivarail’s Class 230 trains. The deal cements the relationship between the two companies for a long-term future in developing battery trains for the UK rail industry.
With the stated desire of the Government to phase out diesel trains by 2040 Vivarail’s Class 230 is a next generation train already proven for today and shows how Vivarail is leading the market with the only battery train available today in the UK.
In October 2018 a battery train carried hundreds of passengers over three days of service in Scotland – demonstrating that battery trains are ready for service now. During the three-day event new data was collected that allowed Vivarail to assess and confirm performance data on a challenging route with many steep gradients. The train was accompanied by its mobile charging unit which was used for a few hours each night to provide a day’s worth of charge: with a 65 mile range the 3-car Class 230 exceeds the expectations of many.
Environment-friendly: Emssion-free in rail transport
Battery trains enable emission-free rail travel in areas where electrification is either non- or only partially existent. The trains are particularly suited to urban routes where authorities wish to eliminate pollution caused by traditional DMUs as well as scenic lines where the natural environment needs protecting.
HOPPECKE’s lithium-ion batteries are ideally suited for the Class 230s by providing the rapid charging needed for battery trains. Simulations and performance data show that many non-electrified routes can be operated by the Class 230 battery trains. To make this possible in the short-term Vivarail has designed and patented an automatic charging system and battery bank. This means that costs of both infrastructure upgrades and daily operation are hugely minimised – in some cases by millions of pounds.
Adrian Shooter, CEO of Vivarail, said, “We are delighted to be working with HOPPECKE – a company with similar values to our own. HOPPECKE has built a strong reputation in their market for innovation, building customer relations and genuinely smart products. We have taken our time choosing a supplier with whom we want to work for many years as our order pipeline continues to grow. Together with HOPPECKE we will be able to provide our customers with battery trains that are reliable, quick to market and with a rapidly increasing range. I look forward to the first of our Class 230 trains complete with HOPPECKE batteries coming into service soon.”
Dr Marc Zoellner, CEO of HOPPECKE, said, “At HOPPECKE we are excited to support Vivarail as the UK’s leading battery train manufacturer. We have followed their journey with great interest and were most impressed when they launched their battery train this year. We know that Vivarail intend to put battery technology at the heart of their design for the foreseeable future and we are delighted to be part of that.”
Photo f. l.: Paul Butchart (HOPPECKE UK), Dr. Marc Zoellner (CEO HOPPECKE), Adrian Shooter (CEO Vivarail), Michael Hilmerich (HOPPECKE Managing Director Business Unit Motive Power)