The new GBP600,000 Energy Systems Integration Laboratory (ESIL) at Birmingham University is designed to test hybrid train technology and accelerate its integration into the UK rail network.
The ESIL incorporates a Machine Rig and Dynamometer (GBP300,000) and a Powercycler (GBP150,000) and will test hybrid drive trains and evaluate the performance of electric storage devices.
'The facility allows the team here to conduct full simulation and testing on hybrid drive-train systems that could ultimately deliver a step-change in the way the UK rail industry addresses its energy needs,' said Dr Clive Roberts, joint head of ESIL Research at Birmingham University, speaking at the launch of the laboratory.
Koji Agatsuma, project manager at Hitachi Europe, added: 'In Japan, the majority of main lines are fully electrified, with only a few rural routes still using diesel trains.
'The implementation of hybrid systems in the UK could save the rail industry millions of pounds and provide an important step towards full electrification,' he said.
The new laboratory is part of the GBP10.5m Energy Efficiency and Demand project, funded by Advantage West Midlands (AWM) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Current projects at ESIL include the characterisation of railway vehicle duty cycles for hybrid drive trains, the performance characterisation of DC/DC power converters and the high-resolution data capture of railway power network and vehicle characteristics.
