Dutch regions look to battery power for zero-emission trains

Ricardo and Arcadis have been working with the northern Dutch regions of Fryslân and Groningen to explore how zero-emission trains can be introduced.

The feasibility study found that battery power, in combination with some form of range extender, could help make the region’s trains emission-free by 2025. Previous Ricardo research had found that the costs of converting their existing diesel networks to electric traction would be prohibitive. However, a subsequent study by Arcadis showed that batteries working in tandem with hydrogen power could achieve the task.

Ricardo and Arcadis then worked together on the current feasibility study, which explored a range of solutions that would be suitable for the region’s mix of relatively short turnarounds and longer routes. It found that a combination of opportunity charging - at the beginning and end of routes - and a range extender solution would enable trains to operate a full timetable each day without the need to carry an excessive number of batteries.