Russia: The utility model patent was obtained by the company at the beginning of 2022. According to its abstract, intellectual rights have been obtained for a hybrid vehicle with traction from the catenary and energy storage, but the key feature is the installation of photovoltaic solar modules on the sides of the shunting electric locomotive.
The document states that the developers were based on solutions previously patented in China and South Korea. The Chinese patent suggests installing solar modules vertically in the window area (which, according to the authors from Russian Railways (RZD), reduces the amount of light reaching the working surface of the photocells), the Korean one – on the roof (this also leads to a high probability of module contamination and the need for frequent maintenance).
In this regard, RZD proposes to fix photovoltaic modules on the locomotive frame using special support elements at an angle of 5-25°, which eliminates the described limitations. The abstract does not provide information about the power of the electric locomotive and the planned wheel arrangement, and therefore it is difficult to judge its traction properties.
Drafts of a shunting electric locomotive, front and top (view). Source: fips.ru
It is worth noting that in July 2021, RZD published information about locomotives in development, and the presentation showed a similar design render by its Locomotive Design Bureau (PKB CT) of a bi-mode shunter with the possibility of execution on 4 or 6 axles. The completion of development work on this vehicle was scheduled for 2022.
The four-axle EMKA2 shunting locomotive with a similar hybrid traction system (catenary + batteries), but without photocells, is being also developed in Russia by Transmashholding (TMH). It is being created on the same platform as the TEM23 diesel locomotive. In 2021, Igor Sahin from the TMH’s Center for Advanced Technologies reported that the power on the shafts of traction motors in EMKA2 in hourly mode when operating from catenary is designed at the level of 500 kW, when operating from batteries – at 300 kW.
A plan to put the EMKA2 shunter into operation after 2023 was announced. In an article for the latest “Vector TMH” corporate magazine, TMH Deputy CEO for Technical Development Alexander Yermonsky said that the EMKA2 is already in production at the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (NEVZ).
