Reporter Lu Bingyang reports from Beijing
CRRC Corporation Limited (601766. SH, hereinafter referred to as "CRRC") released seven serialized new energy locomotives for the first time in the world on June 28. CRRC said that the new energy locomotive can achieve low-carbon and zero-carbon emissions, low noise and high efficiency operation, which will effectively solve the problems of "high fuel consumption, high emissions, high noise and poor comfort" of old diesel locomotives.
At the press conference, Ma Yunshuang, president of CRRC, said that CRRC released 1000 kilowatts, 1500 kilowatts, 2000 kilowatts "three power levels", internal electricity, pure electric, hydrogen fuel "three power configurations" of 7 new energy locomotive products, built a new energy locomotive standard system and industrial chain supply chain system. The 7 new energy locomotives are equipped with three power configurations: "internal combustion engine + power battery", "power battery" and "hydrogen fuel cell", which are suitable for railway transportation scenarios of iron and steel metallurgy, minerals, electric power, coal, ports and other enterprises.
A hydrogen fuel cell locomotive released by CRRC. Lu Bingyang/Photography
Promote the quality and increment of the industry
Regarding the carbon reduction and green characteristics of new energy locomotives, Lin Cunzeng, vice president of CRRC, said that compared with traditional diesel locomotives, the series of new energy locomotives has achieved a comprehensive reduction in pollutant emissions, and the "internal combustion engine + power battery" locomotive has achieved a reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions by 45%, hydrocarbon emissions by 73%, and carbon monoxide emissions by 83%. According to the calculation of a 45% reduction in pollutant emissions, one locomotive can reduce the emission of harmful substances by 4 tons per year and reduce carbon emissions by 374 tons.
In terms of noise reduction, the noise time of the "internal combustion engine + power battery" locomotive is reduced by more than 80%, the noise in the driver's room is reduced to less than 70 decibels, and the radiation noise outside the vehicle is as low as 58 decibels under the condition of power battery.
At present, the old diesel locomotives in use are in a state of overdue service due to their early development years, and their technical level is generally low, which restricts the high-quality development and digital and intelligent transformation of enterprises to a certain extent. Lin Cunzeng said that the new energy locomotive applies PHM (fault prediction and health management) technology to realize fault perception, status monitoring and life prediction of locomotives and key components, which can extend the overhaul cycle of diesel engines to 12 years and lithium titanate batteries to be maintenance-free for 12 years.
Lin Cunzeng said that the seven series of new energy locomotives released this time can be compatible with a variety of standard charging piles, with a charging power of more than 870 kilowatts, the shortest charging time is less than 40 minutes, and the wide temperature range operation from minus 40 degrees Celsius to minus 40 degrees Celsius can be realized. Compared with traditional diesel locomotives, the energy utilization efficiency of "hydrogen fuel cell" locomotives is increased by more than 80%. At the same time, the hydrogen refueling time only takes 10 to 15 minutes, which can effectively ensure the locomotive's operating capacity and cruising range.
In terms of application economy, the series of new energy locomotives ensures that the diesel engine always operates at the best economic speed by adopting hybrid optimal control technology. In the case of filling up the same tank of fuel and pulling 3,000 tons of goods on a straight road, the cruising range of the "internal combustion engine + power battery" locomotive is more than 1,100 kilometers, which is 1.7 times that of the diesel locomotive, and the fuel saving rate is more than 45%.
The serialization of new energy locomotives will drive the development of upstream basic materials, core components and other related industries. "At present, there are about 9,700 old locomotives in China, and the replacement of old locomotives can stimulate the development of upstream basic materials, core components and other related industries, and bring nearly one trillion yuan of industrial scale to the whole industrial chain." Lin Cunzeng said.
At the same press conference, Fei Dongbin, director of the State Railway Administration, put forward requirements for a series of new energy locomotives. He said that China's existing old locomotives are huge, these locomotives have high energy consumption and low efficiency, and it is the right time to launch new energy locomotives in the critical period of equipment renewal. China's railway electrification rate has reached more than 70%, but there are still tens of thousands of kilometers of railways using diesel locomotive traction, and the commissioning of new energy locomotives provides another solution for railway electrification.
He stressed that CRRC should carefully study and actively participate in the energy management business of new energy locomotives in factories and mining enterprises. For iron and steel enterprises, the scale of locomotives is very large, and the expenditure cost is very high. "CRRC equipment enterprises should provide new energy management models, reduce costs, improve efficiency, innovate service models, and help replace old products."
At the press conference, the relevant person in charge of the State Railway Administration also said that after a century of development, China's railway locomotives have experienced three eras of steam, internal combustion and electricity, and the successful development of new energy locomotives marks that China's railway locomotives have entered a new era.
Policy encouragement
On December 5, 2023, the State Railway Administration issued the Notice on Public Consultation on the Administrative Measures for the Elimination and Renewal of Old Railway Diesel Locomotives (Draft for Comments) (hereinafter referred to as the "Notice"). The National Railway Administration encourages railway transport enterprises to try new energy railway locomotives, coordinate the acceleration of the online application assessment and promotion of new energy railway locomotives, and implement inclusive and prudent supervision in the analysis and determination of responsibility for railway traffic accidents caused by the use of new energy railway locomotives (for details, see "National Railway Administration: Encourage the Application of New Energy Locomotives and Adopt a Tolerant Attitude in the Determination of Responsibility for the Use of Accidents" reported by China Business Network on December 7, 2023).
According to the State Railway Administration, it will guide railway equipment enterprises to carry out technical research and genealogy research on new energy railway locomotives, as a green alternative to old railway diesel locomotives. For new energy railway locomotives that adopt new technologies, new processes and new materials, and there are no corresponding national standards and industry standards, take active and effective measures to support them.
In terms of specific support measures, the State Railway Administration emphasized that it is necessary to send personnel to participate in the relevant work of important development nodes of new energy railway locomotives, grasp the dynamics, strengthen guidance, and support the scientific and technological innovation of new energy railway locomotives in the whole process; Coordinate with relevant state departments to promote the introduction of relevant policies for the promotion and application of new energy railway locomotives, and include new energy railway locomotives in national macro support policies; Promote the inclusion of carbon reduction and carbon reduction of new energy railway locomotives in the national carbon emission trading market。
While encouraging the application of new energy locomotives, the State Railway Administration has also put forward requirements for the scrapping of old railway locomotives.
According to the Notice, the scrapped service life of old railway diesel locomotives is 30 years, and from 2027, old railway diesel locomotives that have reached the end of their service life should be fully withdrawn from the railway transportation market; Starting from 2035, old railway diesel locomotives should be completely withdrawn from the railway transportation market.
The State Railway Administration implements classified management of old railway diesel locomotives, implements scrap management for old railway diesel locomotives that have reached the end of their service life, implements an inspection system for old railway diesel locomotives that have not yet reached their service life, and establishes and implements an exit mechanism for the railway transportation market. Old railway diesel locomotives that have reached the end of their service life or have reached the end of their service life or have been assembled with locomotive parts that have reached the end of their service life shall not participate in railway transportation.
In June 2024, the Ministry of Transport, together with 12 departments, once again issued the "Action Plan for Large-scale Equipment Renewal of Transportation" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), once again putting forward requirements for the clean, low-carbon and efficient development of the transportation energy power system and promoting the green and low-carbon transformation of the industry (see "Thirteen Departments: Moderately Advance the Construction of New Energy Vehicle Supporting Facilities and Accelerate the Elimination of Old Locomotives" reported by China Business Network on June 8, 2024).
The "Plan" clearly states that it is necessary to build an inspection system for locomotive exhaust pollutant emissions, and strengthen the dynamic tracking and management of locomotive operation status and exhaust pollutants. Relying on the research and development of Fuxing and other series of locomotive products, high-power power batteries, new generation diesel engines, internal power dual sources, hydrogen power systems, low-carbon/zero-carbon fuel engines and other technologies are adopted to promote the renewal and upgrading of old diesel locomotives.
The so-called old railway diesel locomotives include railway direct current drive diesel locomotives and hydraulic drive diesel locomotives.
Railway locomotives are divided into four types according to the era: steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, electric locomotives and new energy locomotives. In 2005, the former Ministry of Railways eliminated steam locomotives on national railways, and the current Chinese railway locomotives are dominated by internal combustion and electricity. At present, diesel locomotives are mainly used on railway lines without electrification coverage, such as the Qinghai-Tibet Railway; At the same time, the shunting field is also being used. Because the diesel locomotive has its own fuel, it does not rely on the catenary to operate, and it has strong adaptability to extreme environments, which makes it irreplaceable.
According to the 2023 Railway Statistical Bulletin of the National Railway Administration, by the end of 2023, the number of railway locomotives in the country will be 22,400, including 7,800 diesel locomotives and 14,600 electric locomotives, accounting for 34.82%. The operating mileage of the national railway is 159,000 kilometers, and the electrification rate is 75.2%.
(Editor: Meng Qingwei Review: Hao Cheng Proofreader: Yan Yuxia)