India: The retrofit of the four-axle locomotive, produced by the local manufacturer BHEL, has been carried out by Railway Engineering Works (REW).
The upgraded vehicle is reported to feature an energy conversion efficiency of 90% and lithium-ion-phosphate batteries with a capacity of 800 kWh. The traction effort has remained identical to the diesel version of the locomotive.
The overhaul included installing a traction drive with IGBT inverters, a microprocessor-based control system, and a component condition monitoring system. Additionally, the cabin was replaced with a new one for two drivers.
The diesel locomotive converted by REW to battery traction. Source: REW
Recently, the locomotive has successfully passed the operational tests conducted in collaboration with the steelmaking plant JSW Steel in Karnataka, India. The shunter demonstrated its ability to haul both empty and loaded wagons on different tracks, with gradients and curves in particular.
Meanwhile, REW has announced it’s developing a six-axle hydrogen-powered locomotive with an output of 2.3 MW.
