Together with Stadtwerke Tübingen and Stadler, we have reached the final of the German Sustainability Award (GSA) with our products VOLTAP and FLIRT Akku. The 15th award ceremony will be held in Düsseldorf on 1 December 2022.
Currently, only 60 percent of the German rail network is electrified, i.e. equipped with an overhead contact line. Diesel trains continue to be used on lines that are not yet equipped, as the high costs involved in the conversion mean that it is not cost-effective on many routes. In these cases, battery trains such as Stadler’s FLIRT Akku offer a better solution – the range of these trains is limited, however. With a view to accelerating the use of battery trains on non-electrified routes, we joined forces with Stadtwerke Tübingen to develop the VOLTAP fast charging station and carried out tests with the FLIRT Akku battery train from Stadler. The charging system needs just a short piece of conductor rail – the battery-electric multiple unit raises its pantograph in this area, and the charging process begins. Thus, VOLTAP can significantly expand the opportunities for the use of battery trains and help speed up the withdrawal of diesel models.
The overall system with battery train and fast charging station is an important building block in the sustainable transformation of rail transport – and in the achievement of international climate targets.
Further information about the products and solutions as well as the GSA can be accessed over the additional links.
Image: Frank Fendler
Additional links
VOLTAP
Stadler Rail
German Sustainability Award