Test with series-production Class 557 vehicle for VRR (Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr) provides valuable insights for future BEMU projects.
CAF has conducted a range test with a battery-electric multiple unit (BEMU) of the Civity platform at the Siemens Test and Validation Center in Wildenrath (Germany). The vehicle tested was a short-type Class 557 unit equipped with the standard production LTO (Lithium Titanate Oxide) traction batteries.
During the test run, the vehicle achieved a range of 273 km operating exclusively on battery power. In addition, the performance of the traction system was evaluated under extreme operating conditions. The data and insights obtained will be directly incorporated into the further development of efficient battery-electric propulsion technologies.
In addition to the range achieved, the test focused particularly on the interaction between the vehicle control system, energy management, and battery behaviour. The recorded measurement data will now be compared with the results generated by the simulation models used during the development process.
Contributing to the decarbonization of regional rail networks
Battery-electric multiple units are considered a key technology for the continued decarbonization of regional rail transport. They enable emission-free operation on nonelectrified sections of railway lines and provide an alternative to diesel-powered vehicles without requiring full route electrification.
A battery-electric Class 557 multiple unit will be exhibited at InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin, where it will be presented to an international specialist audience for the first time.
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