Digital Displacement Rail Transmission with Flywheel Energy Storage

This project combines, for the first time, the innovative Ricardo Kinergy flywheel and Artemis Digital Displacement® hydraulic pump/motors in a regenerative energy recovery system for a commuter rail-car. Bombardier Transportion will provide system-integration expertise to ensure that the system can be packaged into existing rolling stock. The project outcomes will demonstrate that fuel savings in the range of 10% to greater than 20% are achievable on commuter routes. On exploitation, the technology will enhance the performance of existing trains without the need for infrastructure improvement.
A technology demonstration at the completion of the project will hopefully provide convincing evidence for the performance and competitiveness of the technology. The hardware should be robust and long-lived and will justify the modest cost of installation with a rapid pay-back.