Battery Cells and Packs
The Vehicles are powered by rechargable battery packs. Each pack has approximately 100kWh capacity.
Each pack consists of battery cells packaged into packs of 1200mmx1800mm.
16 packs installed in a an SPRS64 for a total capacity of approximately 1.5 MW
Each charge socket will serve 4 packs
Each pack will have an integrated oil cooling system
Assumed dimensions of battery cells is either 4680 or 2170 sizes
Advantages of Battery Systems
Batteries have a ‘round trip’ efficiency of 90%-95% comparable or better than energy losses over length of power line for either AC or DC systems. The figure for power lines vary but realistically for a 120 mile line (as for HS2) at least 10% loss should be assumed (even more when taking into account the inefficiencies of the pantograph connection and the continuous energising required even when trains are not travelling). Batteries on the other hand use most of their energy in useful work.
No infrastructure is required along the length of the roadway
No rectification or transformer systems needed on board Shuttles to convert AC to DC power suitable for batteries and motors.
Far lower maintenance costs for battery systems. Battery changing systems are mechanically simple and autonomous requiring less human interaction. The system brings itself to the workshop.
No drag penalty for contact wheels or shoes, or aerodynamic losses from pantographs
Standardised modules (packs) allow a variety of formats to be adopted (RoboCars, Single Shuttles, entrained Shuttles) with shared manufacturing and maintenance costs.
