Gas hybrid train (internal combustion engine and battery)
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Technology Description
When catenary lines are available, energy is drawn from them and then stored in high capacity batteries. In other cases, the power can be provided either by the batteries or by gas engine(s). Batteries also store recovered energy when the train is braking, thus reducing overall energy consumption. For this technology to deliver net emissions reductions, the gas needs to be produced from renewable sources.
Relevance for Net Zero
This technology would be a solution for rail transport in the case of cost-effective, abundant production of synthetic methane (from electrolysis from low-carbon electricity with a carbon-source) in the future.
This technology has a market limited to trains running on partially electrified or non-electrified tracks, with a decreasing share over time. Today non-electrified rail lines make up, for example, almost all interregional lines in North and South America, 67% of conventional rail lines in Africa, 15% of conventional rail lines in India, and 38% of Europe's conventional rail lines.
Key Countries
Europe, US
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