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Railways are the lifelines of any country’s economy. Train transportation is a major mode of transportation for passengers and cargo as well. In recent times there has been a gradual shift from the use of conventional fuels to better-cleaner alternatives for powering vehicles. This transition visible in Railways because of increased investment in railway electrification projects. The train battery is put in use to power the coaches when a train is heading slowly or is in the ready position.
This market, because of its vulnerability to modern changes and developments in batteries for coaches and engines is opportunistic in the forecast period and therefore is expected to flourish to a great extent.
In the report, we will further dwell upon the variety of characteristics associated with this market and various opportunities arising in it.
Following is a list of major factors responsible for driving Rail Battery Market forward:
On the other hand, the high capital investment and the high operational costs of the rail network is a huge blunder to the growth of this market. External factors like land acquisition, noise, and air pollution are also considered market restraining factors. In developing countries like India, plans have been formulated to modify the existing tracks but a lot of plans remain pending because of insufficient budget and therefore the growth rate is less owing to slow growth in rail networks expansion.
The Global rail battery market is segmented into various parts like Battery technology, locomotive type, application, and advanced train. Based on battery type the market is divided as Lead Acid Battery, Nickel Cadmium Battery, and Li-Ion Battery.
Based on locomotive type, the market can be divided into Electric Locomotives, Metros, High-speed trains, Diesel Trains, Passenger Coaches, and others. By application, the division is as follows: Starter Battery, Auxiliary Battery. Finally, the category of Advance Trains is divided as follows: Autonomous Trains, Hybrid Locomotives, and Fully Battery-Operated Trains.
Recently, EnerSys has expanded its Manufacturer Representative Agreement with IBCI which is expected to be responsible for sales and service of all EnerSys motive power products in the state of Alabama. In place of the diesel-fueled generators that have powered locomotives for more than a century, trains will soon run on battery power. In order to conduct yard testing, Union Pacific reported placing separate orders for 10 battery-electric locomotives from Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company, and Wabtec Corp.
These green locomotives, along with yard infrastructure upgrades, will help the Class I railroad reach net-zero emissions by the following years. The purchase is a Class I railroad in the United States’ largest investment in battery-electric technology. In order to better understand their capabilities and obstacles for wider deployment, the Progress Rail EMD® Joule and Wabtec FLXdrive locomotives will operate in rail yards in California and Nebraska. There, they will be performance-tested in both cold and warm climates.
On Californian railroads, battery electric locomotives have already started to move. Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, started running battery electric locomotives at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as part of a demonstration with the Pacific Harbor Line.
Additionally, with funding from the California Air Resources Board, Wabtec tested its FLXdrive locomotives on 18 runs between Barstow and Stockton in California. The battery-powered locomotive, which could haul up to 430,000 pounds, was positioned between two conventional diesel locomotives. According to Wabtec, the combination reduced fuel and emissions by an average of 11%. According to Wabtec, its next-generation battery locomotive will have an energy storage capacity that is nearly treble that of a Tesla Model 3 at 7 megawatt-hours. That might reduce emissions to some extent.
Utilizing electric power from batteries will lower greenhouse gas emissions and enhance local air quality. In the US, diesel locomotives discharge harmful pollutants like particulate matter. In addition to improving local communities’ health, replacing diesel locomotives would address long-standing environmental justice issues of locals living close to rail yards in our state.
In addition to keeping tonnes of pollutants out of the air, retrofitting traditional diesel locomotives with battery power could save railroads $94 billion in fuel costs over the course of 20 years. Because the majority of locomotives in the US utilise electric motors rather than diesel generators, they are particularly well-suited for retrofitting with battery power.
On a regional basis, the train battery market is segmented into North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Out of all the regions, the Asia Pacific is expected to hold a huge share of the train battery market and is also expected to flourish to a great extent in the forecast period. The reason behind being – an upsurge in demand for trains in countries like China, South Korea, and India.
The government initiatives in these countries to introduce the concept of bullet trains have also received much attention in recent times. High-speed trains, suburban trains, and urban train transits are majorly operated in China and therefore the country is expected to lead the rail battery market. The fully battery-operated trains have no diesel generators and they utilize rechargeable batteries for traction power.
Alstom announced its first contract for battery-electrical regional trains in Germany which demands 80km of non-electrified track and is also expected to deliver 11 Coradia Continental BEMU trains from 2023 and therefore creates opportunities for battery manufacturers in the region. The Auxiliary battery systems provide backup to all-important train systems like emergency lighting. For fully operated trains, Li-ion batteries have a huge potential to drive the market forward because of the small space for installation, light-weight, and performance.
Henceforth, Europe and Asia-Pacific owing to the huge potential for expansion of high-speed rail networks are expected to drive the market forward. Covid-19 had a severe impact on the revenue generated. The practice of Social Distancing did reduce the maximum rail car occupancy. Also, with the disruptions in trains movement all over the world, the demand for batteries in rails witnessed a decline during the pandemic period.
Hitachi has been working on developing battery-powered driving systems. Hitachi’s first foray into this field began with a collaboration with the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) to develop technologies for non-electrified rail rolling equipment. Hitachi has teamed up with Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) to develop technology that would allow passengers to travel on non-electric lines using only batteries.
This study led in the construction of a battery-powered train that can run on non-electrified stretches of track using energy stored in batteries charged by alternating current (AC) overhead lines, which was sold as the Series BEC819. In 2007, it commercialised a hybrid propulsion system that includes an engine, generator, and batteries for the KiHa E200.
Battery Modules
(1) High output-density battery module
This battery module was designed for hybrid automobiles and includes a small and compact modular design for onboard use. To absorb regenerative power, each hybrid train is fitted with 16 of these battery modules.
(2) High energy-density battery module
This battery module, designed for industrial application, has a large storage capacity and maintains a consistent charge/discharge output. To ensure stable travel distances, each battery-powered train with two cars charged by AC overhead wires was fitted with 216 of these battery modules.
The relative high-power density and less maintenance cost of Sinter Plates in comparison to Lead-acid batteries are the opportunistic 3place for battery manufacturers.
Various aggressive plans formulated for Train electrification all over the globe with increased participation of private entities provide an opportunistic landscape for private firms to grow in this market.
Some of the major challenges and therefore areas for the scope of development and improvement as well are:
Last Year, the GS Yuasa Corporation announced the launch of its LIM50EL series of industrial Li-Ion Battery Modules which have amazingly long life. The company also succeeded in reducing the capacity degradation of their Li-Ion Battery Modules.
This development has enabled the use of new battery modules in long periods for applications with frequent charge and discharge cycles or in relatively high temperatures. EnerSys has established a Global Technology center where engineers develop new modular lithium product systems for motive and reserve power applications.
North America
The North American market, particularly the USA, will be one of the prime markets for (Rail Battery Market) due to the nature of industrial automation in the region, high consumer spending compared to other regions, and the growth of various industries, mainly AI, along with constant technological advancements. The GDP of the USA is one of the largest in the world, and it is home to various industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Aerospace, and Technology. The average consumer spending in the region was $72K in 2023, and this is set to increase over the forecast period. Industries are focused on industrial automation and increasing efficiency in the region. This will be facilitated by the growth in IoT and AI across the board. Due to tensions in geopolitics, much manufacturing is set to shift towards the USA and Mexico, away from China. This shift will include industries such as semiconductors and automotive.
Europe
The European market, particularly Western Europe, is another prime market for (Rail Battery Market) due to the strong economic conditions in the region, bolstered by robust systems that support sustained growth. This includes research and development of new technologies, constant innovation, and developments across various industries that promote regional growth. Investments are being made to develop and improve existing infrastructure, enabling various industries to thrive. In Western Europe, the margins for (Rail Battery Market) are higher than in other parts of the world due to regional supply and demand dynamics. Average consumer spending in the region was lower than in the USA in 2023, but it is expected to increase over the forecast period.
Eastern Europe is anticipated to experience a higher growth rate compared to Western Europe, as significant shifts in manufacturing and development are taking place in countries like Poland and Hungary. However, the Russia-Ukraine war is currently disrupting growth in this region, with the lack of an immediate resolution negatively impacting growth and creating instability in neighboring areas. Despite these challenges, technological hubs are emerging in Eastern Europe, driven by lower labor costs and a strong supply of technological capabilities compared to Western Europe.
There is a significant boom in manufacturing within Europe, especially in the semiconductor industry, which is expected to influence other industries. Major improvements in the development of sectors such as renewable energy, industrial automation, automotive manufacturing, battery manufacturing and recycling, and AI are poised to promote the growth of (Rail Battery Market) in the region.
Asia
Asia will continue to be the global manufacturing hub for (Rail Battery Market) over the forecast period with China dominating the manufacturing. However, there will be a shift in manufacturing towards other Asian countries such as India and Vietnam. The technological developments will come from China, Japan, South Korea, and India for the region. There is a trend to improve the efficiency as well as the quality of goods and services to keep up with the standards that are present internationally as well as win the fight in terms of pricing in this region. The demand in this region will also be driven by infrastructural developments that will take place over the forecast period to improve the output for various industries in different countries.
There will be higher growth in the Middle East as investments fall into place to improve their standing in various industries away from petroleum. Plans such as Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, Qatar Vision 2030, and Abu Dhabi 2030 will cause developments across multiple industries in the region. There is a focus on improving the manufacturing sector as well as the knowledge-based services to cater to the needs of the region and the rest of the world. Due to the shifting nature of fossil fuels, the region will be ready with multiple other revenue sources by the time comes, though fossil fuels are not going away any time soon.
Africa
Africa is expected to see the largest growth in (Rail Battery Market) over the forecast period, as the region prepares to advance across multiple fronts. This growth aligns with the surge of investments targeting key sectors such as agriculture, mining, financial services, manufacturing, logistics, automotive, and healthcare. These investments are poised to stimulate overall regional growth, creating ripple effects across other industries as consumer spending increases, access to products improves, and product offerings expand. This development is supported by both established companies and startups in the region, with assistance from various charitable organizations. Additionally, the presence of a young workforce will address various existing regional challenges. There has been an improvement in political stability, which has attracted and will continue to attract more foreign investments. Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are set to facilitate the easier movement of goods and services within the region, further enhancing the economic landscape.
RoW
Latin America and the Oceania region will showcase growth over the forecast period in (Rail Battery Market). In Latin America, the focus in the forecast period will be to improve their manufacturing capabilities which is supported by foreign investments in the region. This will be across industries mainly automotive and medical devices. There will also be an increase in mining activities over the forecast period in this region. The area is ripe for industrial automation to enable improvements in manufacturing across different industries and efficiency improvements. This will lead to growth of other industries in the region.
The following list enumerates all the major companies in the marketplace:
