They will last 10 times longer: special battery-powered trains will be launched in Germany

New batteries for trains will provide increased safety, a longer service life and lower CO2 emissions, the manufacturer claims.

Saft (a subsidiary of TotalEnergies) is supplying German rail equipment manufacturer Siemens Mobility with its advanced lithium titanate oxide (LTO) traction batteries to be used in seven next-generation Mireo Plus H hydrogen trains. Interesting Engineering writes about this .

As explained in the publication, hydrogen is the main source of energy in Mireo Plus H trains. For their part, the batteries perform the function of acceleration to compensate for the power limitations of the fuel cells, and braking to recover kinetic energy. Each Mireo Plus H train includes two LTO batteries, one for each two-car section.

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The batteries are reported to provide 10 times longer life compared to other technologies and guarantee safety due to their stable electrochemistry. In addition, the faster charge and discharge rates make them ideal for powering traction systems.

“The introduction of this innovative technology for traction applications provides significant advantages over previous generations of lithium-ion batteries, including increased safety and reliability, lower CO2 emissions, longer service life and more power,” — says Saft CEO Cedric Duclos.

According to the portal, unlike other lithium-ion batteries that have a carbon or graphite anode, the anode of LTO batteries is based on lithium titanate. The prismatic format for LTO cells provides optimal packing density along with reliability and durability for a lifetime of at least 10 years and potentially up to 15 years.

Cedric Duclos emphasized that LTO batteries are ideal for devices that require fast charging, as they can be fully charged in ten minutes or less. In addition, LTO can tolerate a 0% state of charge without any adverse effects and requires fewer safety measures.