Deutsche Bahn
Bahn uses power storage from old e-car batteries
How can Deutsche Bahn work more economically and be sustainable? In your ICE works, an answer to this question is the use of electricity storage from used e-car batteries.
Disused car batteries and solar – with this combination, Deutsche Bahn wants to save power costs in its ICE works. The Leipzig work has now been equipped with a so-called second-life battery storage from old e-car batteries. It is a pilot project, further works are to follow, as the railway announced.
The system consists of used car batteries that are no longer strong enough to drive e-cars. However, they can be used as a memory. These modules store electricity that a solar system generates on the roof of the work. If a lot of electricity is required for the maintenance work on the trains, the memory releases it.
85,000 euros saved electricity costs per year
With the solar system and the battery memory, around a quarter of the electricity requirement of the Leipzig ICE plant can be covered, said Katrin Having, the sustainable chief of Sustainable. This saves around 85,000 euros in energy costs at the location annually. It is a good example of how sustainability and economy can be brought together.
The second-life battery storage was developed by a railway-own start-up. It consists of 30 modules of eight electric cars that previously driven for five to seven years with the batteries. According to the railway, the memory could also be expanded if the electricity requirement in the factory increases.
Kassel will receive a battery memory next work
The maintenance work in Kassel is also to be equipped with a second-life battery storage. In addition, it is checked at which other locations the technology can be used. The use of the battery storage is part of the railway renovation program, which is also to be used to improve the economy’s profitability.
dpa
Source: Stern
