HVAC energy demand for battery electric lightweight rail vehicle

Regional railway lines are essential for connectivity and sustainability but are often abandoned due to unprofitability. Battery driven lightweight rail vehicles (LWRV) offer a suitable solution for those tracks, due to their ability to be used more cost- and energy-efficient compared to regular regional transport. However, a significant challenge in LWRVs is the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, which accounts for a substantial portion of overall energy consumption, making efficient air conditioning crucial to guarantee operational flexibility across diverse ambient conditions and system feasibility. Therefore, this study evaluates the HVAC energy demand of an LWRV by creating a thermal car body model in Dymola. Energy requirements were calculated for the 16 operational points given by EN 50591, and a worst-case scenario was adopted to estimate the additional battery capacity needed for air conditioning beyond the traction demand. The results underline the importance of optimized HVAC design for the feasibility of battery electric lightweight rail transport.