China has developed the world's first passenger metro train made of carbon

In the Chinese city of Qingdao, in the eastern province of the country, an innovative passenger subway train made of carbon was presented. As reports South China Morning Post, the new warehouse has successfully passed factory tests and should begin operation already this year.

The Cetrovo 1.0 train, developed by the Qingdao Sifang company, differs from traditional trains in a number of advantages. Thanks to the use of carbon, which is four times lighter than steel, the mass of the train was reduced by 11%. This made it possible to reduce energy consumption by 7%, which is equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 130 tons per year.

The main structures of the train, including the body and frame of the trolley, are made of carbon – composite material, which is five times stronger than steel. Compared to steel and aluminum analogues, the mass of these elements has decreased by 25% and 50%, respectively.

In addition to environmental friendliness, the new train has a number of other advantages:

1. Lower noise level under driving time.
2. Reduced wear of wheels and rails.
3. Simplification of maintenance and repair.
4. Fully automated control system without driver.
5. The ability to work in difficult conditions, including mountainous terrain and heat.
6. Maximum speed up to 140 km/h.

The train is equipped with a collision avoidance system that recognizes obstacles on the way and can independently stop the warehouse if necessary.

The only disadvantage of using carbon remains its high cost compared to steel and aluminum, which is associated with a labor-intensive production process.

The launch of the carbon train in China is an important step in the development of ecological and energy-efficient public transport, which corresponds to the global trend for decarbonization and sustainable development of urban infrastructure.