Supercapacitors and regenerated braking energy storage

The Mannheim tram operator has completed four years of trials with double-layer capacitors to store regenerated braking energy.

Long-term results showed that the tram's traction power consumption was reduced by 30%. Overall power needs including doors, air-conditioning and lighting were cut by a total of 20%, and the long-term reliability of the technology has now been demonstrated. The capacitors also enabled the vehicle to run with its pantograph lowered, and during testing the 1 kW/h capacitor unit was able to power the tram over 500 m making multiple stops.

News by courtesy of R. Revelli