System development and on-track validation of a battery-powered locomotive

New energy-powered locomotive technology is a key enabler for establishing a green and low-carbon transportation system and supporting the achievement of national carbon peaking and carbon neutrality targets in China. In response to the challenges posed by the high costs of railway electrification and limited adaptability in certain regions, the development of alternative low-carbon rail traction technologies has become an important research direction. This study conducted comparative tests on two locomotives with different energy supply configurations based on the same locomotive architecture on the Stapleford Miniature Railway in the UK. The study systematically evaluated and analyzed the operational performance and economic indicators of the locomotives under two hybrid power systems: battery-supercapacitor and hydrogen fuel cell-battery. The experimental results show that the total cost and energy consumption of the battery-powered system are approximately 22% and 47%, respectively, of those of the hydrogen fuel cell system. However, due to the limitations of current battery energy density, the range achieved by the battery-powered system is approximately half that of the hydrogen-based system. These findings suggest that battery-powered locomotives are currently more suitable for short- to medium-distance, low-density transport scenarios. With ongoing advancements in battery materials and energy management technologies, their commercial potential is expected to increase significantly. This study encompasses a full development process covering vehicle design, system integration, and experimental validation, confirming the practical feasibility of battery-powered locomotives. It also proposes future directions for technology improvement, including energy management and thermal optimization.