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

The challenge: demanding requirements across a long vehicle life

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 +60°C

Full performance in cold-climate rail operations without derating

>50,000 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.