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Assessing energy use, cost, and emissions of small regional rail vehicles : methodology and case study on a German track

Ahrling, Christoffer LU orcid ; Tunér, Martin LU ; Gainey, Brian LU ; Alaküla, Mats LU orcid ; Torkiharchegani, Amir LU orcid ; Scharmach, Marcel and Hertel, Benedikt (2026) WCX SAE World Congress Experience 2026 In SAE Technical Papers
Abstract
This work evaluates a standardized 30-ton, 16 m railbus platform optimized for unelectrified regional service, focusing on propulsion system design and trade-offs between range, cost, and emissions. A MATLAB/Simulink drive-cycle model was developed to simulate energy consumption and component performance under realistic operating conditions. The Erfurt–Rennsteig route in Germany (130 km round trip, gradients up to 6 %) was selected as a representative case study. The model incorporates detailed sub-models for traction motors, lithium-ion batteries (LFP and LTO), fuel storage, fuel cells, and ICE gensets across multiple fuel options (diesel, gasoline, methane, ethanol, methanol, HVO, FAME, and hydrogen). Battery lifetime is estimated using... (More)
This work evaluates a standardized 30-ton, 16 m railbus platform optimized for unelectrified regional service, focusing on propulsion system design and trade-offs between range, cost, and emissions. A MATLAB/Simulink drive-cycle model was developed to simulate energy consumption and component performance under realistic operating conditions. The Erfurt–Rennsteig route in Germany (130 km round trip, gradients up to 6 %) was selected as a representative case study. The model incorporates detailed sub-models for traction motors, lithium-ion batteries (LFP and LTO), fuel storage, fuel cells, and ICE gensets across multiple fuel options (diesel, gasoline, methane, ethanol, methanol, HVO, FAME, and hydrogen). Battery lifetime is estimated using a combined cycle- and calendar-aging model using the rainflow algorithm to extract charge cycles, while cost models include capital, fuel, maintenance, track fees, and staffing. Results show that battery-electric configurations achieve 1 kWh/km energy use, while hybrid systems range from 2–4 kWh/km depending on fuel and secondary power unit. Control strategies that enable deeper cycling of the traction battery reduce fuel consumption by 7–18 %, with further savings possible from larger battery or genset capacities. Well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions vary widely: from near-zero for renewable fuels and clean electricity mixes to over 1,000 gCO2/kWh for fossil-based options. Lifecycle cost analysis indicates that while fuel may represent up to 25 % of total costs, track and station fees dominate operational expenses. Autonomous operation could eliminate oboard staffing costs, amounting to 25–35 %. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
SAE Technical Papers
article number
2026-01-0419
pages
27 pages
publisher
Society of Automotive Engineers
conference name
WCX SAE World Congress Experience 2026
conference dates
2026-04-07 - 2026-04-07
ISSN
0148-7191
project
EURail FP6 Future
PhD thesis work
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e847011d-4802-41fa-9088-79de29ac660f
alternative location
https://www.sae.org/papers/assessing-energy-use-cost-emissions-small-regional-rail-vehicles-methodology-case-study-a-german-track-2026-01-0419
date added to LUP
2026-04-07 13:16:31
date last changed
2026-05-13 12:45:56
@article{e847011d-4802-41fa-9088-79de29ac660f,
  abstract     = {{This work evaluates a standardized 30-ton, 16 m railbus platform optimized for unelectrified regional service, focusing on propulsion system design and trade-offs between range, cost, and emissions. A MATLAB/Simulink drive-cycle model was developed to simulate energy consumption and component performance under realistic operating conditions. The Erfurt–Rennsteig route in Germany (130 km round trip, gradients up to 6 %) was selected as a representative case study. The model incorporates detailed sub-models for traction motors, lithium-ion batteries (LFP and LTO), fuel storage, fuel cells, and ICE gensets across multiple fuel options (diesel, gasoline, methane, ethanol, methanol, HVO, FAME, and hydrogen). Battery lifetime is estimated using a combined cycle- and calendar-aging model using the rainflow algorithm to extract charge cycles, while cost models include capital, fuel, maintenance, track fees, and staffing. Results show that battery-electric configurations achieve 1 kWh/km energy use, while hybrid systems range from 2–4 kWh/km depending on fuel and secondary power unit. Control strategies that enable deeper cycling of the traction battery reduce fuel consumption by 7–18 %, with further savings possible from larger battery or genset capacities. Well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions vary widely: from near-zero for renewable fuels and clean electricity mixes to over 1,000 gCO2/kWh for fossil-based options. Lifecycle cost analysis indicates that while fuel may represent up to 25 % of total costs, track and station fees dominate operational expenses. Autonomous operation could eliminate oboard staffing costs, amounting to 25–35 %.}},
  author       = {{Ahrling, Christoffer and Tunér, Martin and Gainey, Brian and Alaküla, Mats and Torkiharchegani, Amir and Scharmach, Marcel and Hertel, Benedikt}},
  issn         = {{0148-7191}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  publisher    = {{Society of Automotive Engineers}},
  series       = {{SAE Technical Papers}},
  title        = {{Assessing energy use, cost, and emissions of small regional rail vehicles : methodology and case study on a German track}},
  url          = {{https://www.sae.org/papers/assessing-energy-use-cost-emissions-small-regional-rail-vehicles-methodology-case-study-a-german-track-2026-01-0419}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}