The accumulator train for the first time in the world was let to a commercial route

At the beginning of January, 2021 the accumulator train for the first time in the world was let to a commercial route. This project was implemented in California by railway company BNSF Railway and the producer of Wabtec Corporation locomotives.

The locomotive which goes by electric traction received  the name FLXdrive. It is created based on a serial diesel electric locomotive  of Wabtec Evolution Series. As stated on the website of the producer, the lump of accumulators is 22.5 tons. As a part of  FLXdrive  there are 20 thousand accumulator cells placed in twenty racks. According to developers, the conditioning system maintains the room temperature of accumulators at any operation modes.

The accumulator train for the first time in the world was let to a commercial route

FLXdrive is first-ever completely electric engine of big loading capacity which optimizes the general use of energy of all structure — the vice president for development of Wabtec Alan Hamilton says. — This technology works how electric vehicles use recuperative braking. It is a major step forward for the railway industry which will change a course on more net and energy efficient transport.

The first commercial route of the train FLXdrive lies between the Californian cities of Barstou and Stockton. During the first run the structure with a lump of 8385 tons included 76 cars, 55 of which were loaded. On the way back there were already 118 cars (including 40 loaded and 78 empty) with a lump of 7787 tons.

The maximum power of engines is 4400 horsepowers, and weight — about 195 tons. Operational speed is limited to 75 miles per hour (120 km/h).  FLXdrive course stock  under a full load is estimated 30-40 minutes, and due to recuperative braking this indicator can be increased.^[1] 

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