Abstract
By retrofitting conventional diesel railcars of type VT 642 and equipping them with a hybrid drive, EcoTrain project aims at developing hybrid technologies for railway vehicles in order to improve the efficiency of rail traffic on non-electrified lines. This especially bears high potentials for rural areas. The present study applies Life Cycle Assessment to three alternatives of trains’ power-sources for non-electrified lines (diesel, hybrid and hybrid with recharging stations) and compares the results under the same scope and boundary conditions. The study focuses on the three types of drives and the marginal requirements for each alternative (the carriage is similar). The contribution of each component for the environmental impact during a time-span of 15 years is analyzed on a mid-point and end-point perspective. The final results are discussed with regard to the critical aspects towards an informed life cycle engineering-based decision.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
