China: The plant in Qiqihar produced the first six freight cars with bodies made of composite panels based on carbon fibre reinforced resins. The batch of eight-axle cars is produced for CHN Energy.
The vehicles were developed in cooperation with the National Institute of Clean and Low-Carbon Energy. According to the manufacturer, carbon fibre’s strength is more than 3–5 times that of steel, the body doesn’t need repair within 25 years of operation.
In the meantime, the car weighs 18 t, which is 6 t less than its traditional metal-based counterpart. Its body has a volume of 94.3 m³ and the payload of 82 t. The car’s hatches are designed to unload coal in 20 seconds.
The world’s first carbon fibre cars from CRRC. Source: CCTV
It also has an axle generator and 17 sensors to monitor the state of the brakes, bearing and other units online, which will allow a shift from planned maintenance to condition-based service.
CRRC has already produced a carbon fibre metro train, which was presented in June.
