Innotrans 2024: Rolls-Royce shows mtu solutions for on-track energy transition and celebrates 100 years of rail engine business
Posted on September 23, 2024
- All mtu engine series for locomotives and railcars approved for sustainable fuels
- DB, RDC Autozug Sylt, Trenitalia and České dráhy use or test HVO
- Rolls-Royce celebrates 100 years of success with mtu rail drives
- More than 250 rail customers worldwide value the performance, compact design and low exhaust emissions of mtu systems
Rolls-Royce will be presenting its mtu-brand propulsion and service solutions at the international rail exhibition Innotrans in Berlin from September 24 to 27, 2024 in Hall 18, Booth 500. The company will be celebrating an anniversary at the same time: for 100 years, mtu products have been powering trains, including mainline and multi-purpose locomotives, high-speed trains and local transport railcars. On display will be sustainable propulsion solutions such as the mtu Series 4000 and 1600 engines for locomotives and the underfloor drive systems mtu PowerPacks for railcars, all of which are now released for sustainable fuels such as HVO. Rolls-Royce will also be presenting its repower and reman solutions.
100 years ago, Karl Maybach laid the foundation for the rail drive systems of today's mtu brand with the world's first high-speed diesel engine for railcars, the Maybach G 4a. Maybach also developed the GO 5 engine for the “Fliegender Hamburger” express train.
More than 25,000 mtu rail drive systems delivered
Since 1924, Rolls-Royce has delivered more than 25,000 drive solutions for rail vehicles. More than half of all railcars in Europe are powered by mtu engines, and when it comes to locomotives, Rolls-Royce is among the top four suppliers worldwide with its mtu brand. “More than 250 rail customers appreciate the performance, compact design, robustness and low exhaust emissions of mtu drive systems,” said Jonathan Chen, Vice President Global Rail. “Our customers are using our service solutions such as Reman to sustainably overhaul their fleets, which is part of our strategy.”
mtu rail engines with HVO significantly reduce emissions without affecting performance
mtu Series 1800 (EU V & EU IIIA/IIIB) engines, which are used in mtu PowerPacks, as well as Series 1300, 1 500, 1600 and 4000 (for locomotives and special rail vehicles) are approved for use with synthetic fuels (EN 15940) such as HVO. Rolls-Royce has thoroughly evaluated the engines on the test bench and in the field with HVO. All tests showed comparable performance when operating on HVO compared to fossil diesel (EN 590), while simultaneously reducing emissions – especially particulate matter and CO2 by up to 90 percent from a life cycle perspective*.
Deutsche Bahn, Trenitalia, České dráhy use drop-in fuel HVO
Deutsche Bahn is pursuing the ambitious goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. To achieve this, it is relying, among other things, on the use of HVO. This has already been in use since 2022 in DB Cargo's shunting locomotives with mtu Series 4000 engines. Long-distance locomotives with mtu engines and regional locomotives with mtu Series 1800 engines also use the environmentally friendly fuel. The RDC Autozug Sylt car-carrying train has also successfully tested mtu Series 4000 engines with the sustainable fuel. HVO is also currently being tested by the Czech rail operator České dráhy with mtu PowerPacks and by the Italian rail operator Trenitalia with mtu Series 1600 engines.
Neither engine nor infrastructure modifications are required to switch to HVO fuel. Due to its similar energy density compared to fossil diesel, HVO enables unrestricted engine operation in terms of power, robustness, range, towing capacity and refueling time.
* Well-known European manufacturers of HVO-100 fuels have determined a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (CO₂ equivalent) of up to 90% over the product life cycle compared to fossil diesel, based on the methodology for calculating life cycle emissions and emission reduction according to the EU Renewable Energy Directive II (2018/2001/EU, “RED II”).
Further information and test results in the new white paper: Testing of HVO in mtu engines for rail applications (mtu-solutions.com)
Further information on the use of HVO by Deutsche Bahn: “HVO is gentle on the engine” (mtu-solutions.com)
About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc
- Rolls-Royce develops and delivers complex power and propulsion solutions for safety-critical applications in the air, at sea and on land. Our products and service packages enable our customers to connect people, societies, cultures and economies together; they meet the growing need for power generation across multiple industries; and enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power to protect.
- Rolls-Royce has a presence in 48 countries and customers in more than 150, comprising over 250 commercial large aero engine customers, 160 armed forces and navies and approximately 40,000 active Power Systems customers. We are committed to becoming a net zero company by 2050 and we support our customers to do the same.
- Annual underlying revenue was £15.4bn in 2023, underlying operating profit was £1.6bn and free cash flow £1.3bn.
- Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69).
- Rolls-Royce Power Systems is headquartered in Friedrichshafen in southern Germany and employs more than 10,500 people. The product portfolio includes mtu-brand high-speed engines and propulsion systems for ships, heavy land, rail and defence vehicles and for the oil and gas industry. The portfolio also includes diesel and gas systems and battery containers for mission critical, standby and continuous power, combined generation of heat and power, and microgrids. With its climate friendly technologies, Rolls-Royce Power Systems is helping to drive the energy transition.
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