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Most trains have been diesel/electric hybrids for a long time. I assume this is the same, the electric motors are just being powered by the batteries vs the ge
by tw04 5y ago
Most trains have been diesel/electric hybrids for a long time. I assume this is the same, the electric motors are just being powered by the batteries vs the generator, and the generator keeps the batteries charged up now. Presumably that allows them to do more interesting things with the motors which accounts for the efficiency improvements.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_locomotive#/media/File%3ADieselElectricLocomotiveSchematic.svg https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_locomotive#/media/Fil...
- hakfoo 5y agoThey're diesel with electric transmission, but not regenerative. Many locomotives have a visible box that contains just arrays of resistors used to burn off current generated during braking. I always wondered if it would make sense to have a battery "tender" that could accept this current from a relatively stock diesel engine... so you replace, say, four straight diesels with three and one battery tender.