"EcoTram" research project: further reducing the energy consumption of trams

The “EcoTram” research project is intended to demonstrate how this figure can be reduced. For this purpose, in the first stage of the project in the climatic wind tunnel and in actual passenger service in Vienna, a ULF (ultra low floor) tram was used to collect the basic data, before being converted into the “EcoTram” and subjected once again to the same measurements.

These tests, for example, monitored the intake temperatures of the air conditioning systems in the car and the effects of the heat and humidity generated by the passengers. Intelligent controllers predictively assess whether it will shortly be necessary to activate the heating or air conditioning.

This saves a great deal of energy and consequently helps to protect the environment. Experts estimate potential savings of up to 3000 MWh per year for the operator Wiener Linien. This is equivalent to the electricity consumption of a small town and saves 600,000 kg of CO2 per year.

The research project is being sponsored by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) as part of the “New Energies 2020” scheme.

Siemens has built the complete vehicle, while the Automation and Control Institute at the Vienna University of Technology (TU) has developed the controller software, Rail Tec Arsenal makes the tests in the climatic wind tunnel and Vossloh Kiepe supplies the heating and air conditioning units.

The rail infrastructure company SCHIG is responsible for the overall project.

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