Bombardier Transportation launched its emission-free battery-operated Talent 3 train during an event at its Hennigsdorf, Germany site.

The new battery-operated train is the first of its kind to enter passenger operation in Europe in over 60 years. It does not generate any exhaust and sets the standards for smart mobility with peak values of 90% in the areas of efficiency and recyclability. It is also around 50% quieter than modern diesel trains. According to a comparative study by the Technical University of Dresden, the battery-operated train clearly has an edge with respect to the total costs across the service life of 30 years.

“With our new battery-operated train, we are putting real innovation on the tracks,” says Michael Fohrer, head of Bombardier Transportation in Germany. “This train is Bombardier’s technological response to challenges such as air pollution, climate change, and scarcity of resources. Around 40% of the German rail network is not electrified. The Bombardier battery-operated train is an attractive option to counter that, both economically and ecologically speaking.”

In general, the prospects for the battery-operated train are positive. The range increases proportionally with the continuous capacity increases due to new battery developments. The current prototype is equipped with four Bombardier Mitrac traction batteries and can travel routes of around 24 miles — in 2019, the next generation of battery-operated trains will be able to cover distances of approximately 62 miles on non-electrified railways.

In 2019, Deutsche Bahn (DB) will start a 12-month trial run with passengers with the current prototype in the Alb-Lake Constance region.