Project starts for shunting locomotive fleet with hybrid technology

Deutsche Bahn AG, Alstom Deutschland AG, the State of Bavaria and DAL Deutsche Anlagen Leasing GmbH & Co. KG today launched the ERI (Eco Rail Innovation) H3 hybrid shunting locomotive project - an initiative of the ERI platform formed by 17 companies¹. One of ERIs goals is to create an emission-free rail system by 2050.  To this end, the partners have signed contracts to finance and construct five H3 series shunting locomotives using hybrid² technology. The State of Bavaria is investing around 600,000 in the project.

The project aims to check the technical and economic feasibility and readiness of a hybrid shunting locomotive for in-series production and daily use. Operational reliability of the hybrid technology as well as the reduction in fuel consumption, pollutant emissions and the maintenance outlay are set to be tested.

By launching this project, we are taking a major step towards the market readiness of hybrid technology and are affirming rail travel as the most environmentally friendly means of transport, declares Dr Volker Kefer, Member of DBs Management Board for Technology and Infrastructure.

Our newly developed shunting locomotive platform is based on modern technology which can be used in a wide range of applications, especially in its hybrid version, says Alf Henryk Wulf, Chairman of the board of Alstom Deutschland AG.

Starting in 2015, the environmentally friendly shunting locomotives will be tested for their suitability for daily use in Franconia at DB Regios sites in Würzburg and Nuremberg over an eight-year period. This project breathes life into the energy turnaround in the Free State of Bavaria. It is active politics for a more sustainable transportation. I am proud, that my homeland Franconia is a nationwide pioneer in this technology, says Katja Hessel, undersecretary of state from the Department of Transport who derives from Nuremberg.

The three-axle H3 hybrid locomotive consumes 50% less fuel than conventional shunting locomotives. The new technology will lead to a 70% reduction in pollutant emissions. In addition, the 350 KW diesel generators feature particle filters and thus meet exhaust gas standard, stage IIIB. The hybrid locomotive spends 80% of its operating time in battery mode. This makes emission-free rail transport possible at a local level, e.g. in central areas of cities. The locomotive achieves a maximum speed of around 100 kilometers an hour.

The locomotives will be purchased by Deutsche Anlagen Leasing GmbH & Co. KG and then leased to DB for eight years. Tailor-made asset-finance solutions are a real challenge, especially for new technologies. We are convinced of this trend-setting technology and are happy to contribute to this project by taking the risk within the frame of an operate lease, emphasizes Andreas Geue, a member of Executive Management at DAL.

This project will have a positive effect for DB region. We are expecting hybrid technology to lead to discernible cost savings with regard to fuel consumption and maintenance outlay as well as for emissions. We also want to gain authoritative information regarding reliability and operability, explains Kay Euler, Executive Director of DB Regio AG.

Press contacts

Alstom
Waldemar Oldenburger - Tel: +49 30330 963831 - waldemar.oldenburger@power.alstom.com

Deutsche Bahn
Hartmut Sommer - Tel: +49 30297 62109 - hartmut.sommer@deutschebahn.com

STMWIVT Bayern
Cordual Hartl - Tel: +49 892162 2612 - cordula.hartl@stmwivt.bayern.de

DAL
Axel Werning - Tel: +49 6134 565137 - a.werning@dal.de

(1) Alstom, BVG, DB, DLR, Bombardier, SG www.ecorailinnovation.com/companies
(2) Diesel/Electric