Bombardier Transportation has signed a MOU with energy storage system provider Leclanché to deliver lithium-ion battery systems for up to 10 railway projects over the next five years that are potentially worth more than €100m (£89m).
Bombardier Transportation will use Leclanché’s European-manufactured GNMC & LTO cells, module and pack technology across its portfolio of trains.
The collaboration aims to reduce the industry’s dependence on diesel engines and lead to a subsequent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the railway sector.
It also aims to accelerate the shift from lead-acid batteries to lithium-ion, which is estimated to become the largest share of the train battery market by 2025. Independent studies predict that the demand for rail battery capacity will increase by 400% from now until 2025.
Frédéric Hendrick, head of module center energy and motion at Bombardier Transportation, said: “Leclanché’s ability to cover the complete value chain and the leading cell technologies from design and production of lithium cells in Europe to full battery systems for railway applications, together with our traction technology positions us together as leaders in electrification solutions that will deliver lower operational expenditure and enable environmental sustainability for all train types.”
This partnership adds to Leclanché’s portfolio of mandates across the e-transport sector that aims to accelerate the electrification of transport and reduce the sector’s dependence on fossil fuels.
It will also increase the trains’ autonomy on the non-electrified part of the rail network by providing hybrid engines compliant with regulations preventing the use of diesel propulsion in cities.
