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Diesel propulsion vs. electric power

The Sprinter system's DMU railcars (see photo, below) are manufactured by the German carbuilder Siemens Transportation Systems. Each car is propelled by two 440-horsepower Mercedes diesel engines beneath the floor of the passenger cabin. The maximum permissible speed of the trains is 55 mph. Each car seats 136, with room for 90 standing passengers; and on most trips, the transit district plans to couple two cars together. Through multiple-unit controls, the driver has control of all four diesel engines in a 2-car train. The car body is made of aluminum integral construction; the empty weight is 67 tons. Every car has three different braking systems. When running below 15 mph, the vehicle uses the regular wheel brakes (air brakes). When the train is moving above 15 mph, the cars are slowed by an engine retarder, not by the regular brakes. The third braking system is an electromagnetic track brake (using three electromagnets) located in the trucks (bogeys). When the train goes into emergency braking, all brake systems are applied at once. The initial fleet consists of twelve vehicles provided by Siemens at a cost of $52.2 million. ...
...actual capital investment costs for the project, pushed higher by inflation, delays, and unexpected problems, reached $484.2 million. Operating costs are projected at about $11 million per year. ..
In 1987, the project was included in TransNet, the countywide 0.5% sales tax for transportation projects. In 1990, the NCTD board of directors voted to build the line between Oceanside and Escondido. At that time, the project was projected to cost $60 million and begin operation in 1999. In 1991, the plans were revised to include a new stretch of track, a 1.7-mile double-track alignment to California State University San Marcos, for an additional $25 million. And in 1992, as already mentioned, the existing railway line was purchased. ....
it is questionable whether DMUs – despite eliminating the e

Streetline's standard pricing is $300 for each sensor and $150 for each meter monitor, including installation, and a $10 monthly service fee per device.

80 Kokam 70Ahr Lithium-ion Polymer cells
6 Reap battery management modules
2 Omron high current DC contactors plus other associated switchgear and fuses

Sub pack assemblies consisting of of 8 cells

PML assembled the cells in groups of 8 cells per pack with a total of 10 packs being used. The inter connection of the individual packs was re designed to massively improve the electrical connection, pack to pack, and to increase the safety to the user.

The completed battery is housed in an aluminium box that is similar in size and weight to the original Mini engine that it replaced. The battery management system is assembled onto a top plate above the battery packs.

When fully charged the battery pack stores 21 KWh of energy and is capable of delivering 100KW continuously or 200KW for short periods of time.
Fully assembled battery cells and BMS system

Reap BMS fitted to top plate
The chosen cells have a very low internal resistance and produce very little waste heat when operating which is good both thermally and for power management efficiency.

The Reap battery management system ensures safe operation and long cell life. Every cell is constantly monitored for voltage, state of charge and temperature.

The EBT is located in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania 19 miles north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and 11 miles south of US 22, the William Penn Highway. Today the railroad operates as a heritage railway, with steam powered trains pulled by narrow gauge 2-8-2 steam locomotives. Excursions run on weekends June through October. The Fall Spectacular, when all operating equipment is in use, is the best weekend to attend. The Spectacular is held on the Saturday and Sunday of Columbus Day weekend in October.

Riding a banana decauville railway with an unpowered trolley in Itanha�

Pacelite 707 electric scooter

In general shipping companies allow weight of 26t weight per container - 22t for the goods and 4t cont. itself. In very few cases, the weight allowance may go up to 30t altogether. Any weight over the general 26t can/will be refused by the shipping carrier or the port. For that reason birch plywood is transported in 20 feet containers.

Travellers in Cambodia have to deal with one of the world's worst train networks.

There is only one passenger service a week, and it often travels at not much more than walking pace.

So people in the north west of the country, near Cambodia's second city of Battambang, have taken matters into their own hands.

They have created their own rail service using little more than pieces of bamboo. The locals call the vehicles "noris", or "lorries", but overseas visitors know them as "bamboo trains".

A tiny electric generator engine provides the power, and the passenger accommodation is a bamboo platform that rests on top of two sets of wheels. A dried-grass mat to sit on counts as a luxury.

A single railroad track, just 6 feet across, has the capacity of a superhighway 10 times wider. As for energy savings, even the most conservative studies give trains an advantage of 4 to 1 over cars and airplanes.

The Lowell Line Schedule