RAIL
Battery-electric rail – without the infrastructure constraint.
Extending zero-emission rail to regional and freight routes demands batteries that charge fast, last long, and keep pack size practical. XNO® delivers all three.
THE CHALLENGE
Achieve maximum electrification, decoupled from linear asset electrical infrastructure.
Rail vehicles cycle continuously across decades of operating life. Public passenger applications carry the most stringent safety standards. And the whole-life economics of battery-electric rail depend critically on pack size: larger batteries mean higher axle loading, more infrastructure stress, and higher whole-life cost.
LFP's slow charge rate forces a large battery, sized for a full journey. NMC's cycle life is insufficient for rail duty without mid-life replacement. LTO handles the performance requirements but at low energy density and disproportionate cost. XNO® closes the gap at significantly higher energy density.
WHY XNO®
Rail applications for XNO®.
1.
Hybrid-electric freight locomotives
XNO®'s high charge rate means the battery can be sized for power recovery, not energy storage, delivering a dramatically smaller installation than LFP for the same traction power. Lower axle loading, lower installation cost, lower infrastructure wear.
2.
Battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs)
BEMUs charge under catenary on electrified sections and run on battery through non-electrified gaps. XNO® at 5–10C means the battery can be sized for the gap rather than the full journey – a dramatically smaller installation than LFP.
3.
Opportunity-charging light rail and trams
Urban light rail and trams can charge briefly at stops and termini. XNO® makes this practical at high rates without cycle degradation, enabling catenary-free operation on constrained urban sections.
PERFORMANCE
The numbers that matter.
5–10C charging
Battery sized for the gap, not the journey; dramatically smaller than LFP
−30°C to +55°C
Full performance in cold-climate rail operations without derating
>100,000 cycles
Covers the vehicle operating life; no mid-life replacement
EUCAR Level 3
Meets the safety standards required for passenger rail applications
PRODUCTS
Engineered for
this application.
Engineered XNO®-based traction battery systems for rail – scalable, high-voltage configurations with integrated BMS, cooling, and communications. Designed for rolling stock certification and qualification requirements.
Ready to discuss your application?
Our engineering team will respond with a technically grounded view of how XNO® can help.