Tech,Space,Gaming, and Science Fiction News to wet your whistle
Bombardier revives the battery-powered train
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
Diesel trains are noisy and polluting, but on stretches of non-electrified rail, what else are you going to do? Hydrogen trains are one option, but now there's another: Canadian transportation firm Bombardier has (re-)introduced the battery powered train. In Berlin, it launched the Bombardier Talent 3 electro-hybrid train, the first of its kind in Europe in over 60 years, the company said. The train took its maiden voyage with local luminaries including the federal commissioner for rail transport and th e Brandenburg transport minister.
"Around 40 percent of the German rail network is not electrified," said Bombardier German transportation chief, Michael Fohrer. "The Bombardier battery-operated train is an attractive option to counter that, both economically and ecologically speaking." Developed with $4 million worth of support from the German government, the train uses Bombardier's MITRAC powertrain (below) that allows for different combinations of motors and batteries.
The train that ran on the weekend can go about 40 km (25 miles) on a charge, but future version will be able to run for up to 100 km (62 miles). It generates no exhaust and is 90 percent efficient in terms of efficiency and recyclability, Bombardier said.
Germany is trying hard to reduce its dependence on diesel trains. Earlier this year, Alstom unveiled the Coradia iLint, a hydrogen-powered train that will one day run for about 1,000 km (620 miles) on a tank of hydrogen. "On non-electrified or only partially electrified routes, the motto is: move away from diesel on the tracks and toward cleaner and more environmentally-friendly mobility," said Germany's state secretary for rail transport Enak Ferlemann.
Germany has a ways to go to catch up with Holland, which runs 100 percent of its trains on wind power. It's trying to catch up, though: In 2019, operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) will start a twelve-month trial run with passengers on Bombardier's 40 km-range prototype train near Lake Constance in Germany's southwest.
By Liam McCabe This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter . When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here . After six summers of researching, testing, and recommending window air conditioners, we've learned that quiet and affordable ACs make most people the happiest—and we think the LG LW8016ER will fit the bill in most rooms. This 8,000 Btu unit cools as efficiently and effectively as any model with an equal Btu rating, and runs at a lower volume and deeper pitch than others at this price. Little extra features like a fresh-air vent, two-axis fan blades, and a removable drain plug help set it apart, too. The LG LW8016ER is a top choice for an office or den, and some people will find it quiet enough for a bedroom, too. If our main pic...
It's official. Sprint is definitely giving away free unlimited LTE data through 2018 to those who use laptops packing Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 processor. We first learned of this last month , and the announcement today clarifies which devices qualify. If you own or buy the HP Envy X2 , ASUS NovaGo or Lenovo Miix 630 , you'll be able to get free unlimited data if you sign up for AutoPay with the carrier. This won't cover devices using the new Snapdragon 850 chipset , although that's not available in an actual computer yet, and we'll possibly hear more later this year. Always-available data connectivity is perhaps the biggest selling point of Windows on Snapdragon devices, which promise gigabit LTE speeds wherever you are. While it would be nice to see other carriers offer similar deals, just to have an alternative option, this offer makes these...
ASUS may well have pulled out of the Android smartwatch market after its ZenWatch 3 , but it's actually not quite done yet with wearables. At Computex, the company made a little surprise by unveiling the VivoWatch BP, which is a follow-up to the original low-power VivoWatch from three years ago. We're looking at a handful of new features and improvements here, with the main highlight being the built-in blood pressure monitor -- a rare feature in the smartwatch category. The only other recent direct competitor is the Omron HeartGuide , which is also due to lau nch later this year. The VivoWatch BP won't be winning praises for its appearance. While the previously monochromatic high-reflective display has now gained some colors, it's also gained a much thicker bezel to accommodate extra sensors on the front. The screen is positioned i...
Comments
Post a Comment