The trains of the future being developed by Končar are expected to be ready for tracks by next summer

KONČAR group is expected to develop one of the world’s most sophisticated products, a battery and hybrid train, by August 2024. To this end, KONČAR signed a contract with HŽ Passenger Transport at the end of last year for the purchase of a prototype battery electric multiple unit and battery motor train, as well as six stable energy connections as part of the project Application of Green Technologies in Railway Passenger Transport from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 – 2026 (NPOO).

As part of the project, a battery electric multiple unit (BEMV) and a battery motor train (BMV) will be procured, along with six stable energy connections for battery charging, which will be installed at the stations in Split, Osijek, Varaždin, Bjelovar, Virovitica, and Pula.

– The procurement of these trains enables the organization of railway passenger transport on non-electrified lines in an environmentally friendly manner using modern vehicles that utilize electric energy for their propulsion. The deadline for the delivery of two prototype trains and six stable energy connections is 20 months after the contract is signed – explained KONČAR.

Production is on schedule

The contract signed by Željko Ukić, CEO of HŽ PP, and Josip Ninić, CEO of KONČAR – Electric Vehicles, is valued at 17.12 million euros excluding VAT. The total value of the project is 21.4 million euros, and HŽ hopes to procure about 60 such battery trains by 2030, planning total investments of four to five billion euros.

– KONČAR is intensively working on the project, and equipment is regularly arriving at the KONČAR – Electric Vehicles (KEV) factory. The steel structures of the train cars are expected to arrive by the end of the year, and final assembly is planned to be completed by April 2024. In the finished product, KONČAR will participate with components and systems worth more than 55 percent of the project price, and the total value of components and systems produced in Croatia will exceed 75 percent of the project price. After final assembly, testing will follow at the KEV factory and then on the track. We expect completion in August 2024, in accordance with the agreed deadlines. Six charging stations have been contracted, and their production is on schedule – KONČAR adds.

To better adjust the parameters of the main electric drive, the Group decided to build a test setup in the KONČAR – Institute for Electrical Engineering’s laboratory for rotating machines, a model of the drive made up of all real components that will also be installed in the trains.

– All equipment has been ordered and is on its way. We expect the test setup to be operational in January 2024 – KONČAR states.

‘Batteries will charge in no more than 30 minutes’

The battery trains will be equipped with ramps for the entry and exit of wheelchair users, space for bicycles, and toilets adapted for wheelchair access, and the entire passenger area will be under video surveillance. Monitors will be installed in the passenger area to display video content. Additionally, along with visual and audio announcements at stations and stops, passengers on the train will have free internet access.

The trains will be designed for an average daily mileage of up to 480 kilometers and an average daily operation of up to 18 hours. It is possible to functionally connect battery trains with new generation low-floor trains, ensuring greater capacity.

– The battery electric multiple unit (BEMV) will be used for passenger transport on both electrified and non-electrified railway networks in Croatia. On the non-electrified network, it will use batteries for propulsion, while on the electrified network, it will use a classic power supply system via pantographs. Batteries can be charged from the contact network or using stable energy connections. During the train’s movement in contact with the contact network, the energy obtained can be used to charge the battery and directly power the electric multiple unit, and energy obtained from braking the train can be returned to the network or used to charge the batteries.

Battery motor trains (BMV) will be used for passenger transport on the non-electrified railway network in Croatia. They will use batteries that are charged exclusively via stable energy connections. Using stable energy connections, batteries will charge in no more than 30 minutes. Stable energy connections will be installed at the stations in Split, Osijek, Varaždin, Bjelovar, Virovitica, and Pula – KONČAR concludes.