InnoTrans 2024 report (22)
posted on 31st Dec 2024 11:21
The CRRC's presence as the world's largest manufacturer of rolling stock can be considered as a relatively groundbreaking moment in the history of vehicles exhibited at InnoTrans. Although this state-owned giant from the People's Republic of China, whose production is predominantly focused on the domestic market, has not overlooked the Berlin fair in previous years and presented itself on a grand stand alongside other big names in the industry, this time the company brought two real exhibits to Berlin. The larger were two cars of CINOVA H2 unit, while the second exhibit was the hydrogen "tram on tyres" ART 2.0 (Autonomous-Rail Rapid Transit).
The CINOVA origin
The CINOVA H2 is an upgraded version of the original CINOVA family, the CRH6 intercity trains used by China Railways; the name is derived from the words China, intercity and nova. Like the previous models, the CINOVA H2 was developed by CRRC's Qing-dao Sifang plant. The CRH6 series was introduced here in 2013, and at that time CRRC already indicated an ambition to introduce the CINOVA family to the European market; however, this has not happened - yet.
On the other hand, on Chinese rail tracks, CINOVA units have spread to many agglomerations in the CRH6A (eight-car, 200 km/h top speed), CRH6F (eight-car, 160 km/h), CRH6A-A (four-car, 200 km/h), CRH6F-A (four-car, 160 km/h) versions. Total numbers are difficult to verify, but Chinese sources report 168 CRH6 units produced by 2023. Of the urban and suburban versions, CINOVA-140 and CINOVA-160, whose name includes the maximum operating speed, 22 units have been ordered in four- or eight-car configurations.
Upgraded CINOVA
In June 2023, at a presentation held at CRRC's Qingdao Sifang plant, the manufacturer presented an upgraded version of the CINOVA family, which includes the CINOVA H2 exhibited at InnoTrans 2024. This hydrogen-powered unit (HMU), is designed as a four-car unit and can be produced in versions for maximum speeds between 160 and 200 km/h. The length of the train is 103 m, the length of each car is 25,000 mm, the width of the car bodyshells is 3,300 mm and the height of the cars is 4,350 mm above TOR. The distance between the bogie pivot points is 17 500 mm.
The technical specifications
Two cars are powered and two are trailing. The power source is four fuel cells, each with a power output of 240 kW and a declared lifetime of 35 000 h, and a traction lithium titanate battery with a capacity of 366 kWh. The composite pressure vessels can store up to 316 kg of hydrogen in gas form at a pressure of 70 MPa, which, according to the CRRC, gives the vehicle a range of 1 000 – 1,200 km on a single filling, using a speed of 160 km/h. Consumption is quoted as 0.3 g of hydrogen per km. With regard to the acceleration of the train, the manufacturer gives a value of 0.65 m/s2 in the range from 0 to 40 km/h, and 0.3 m/s2 above 40 km/h. In addition, the CINOVA H2 offers nowadays common features such as remote monitoring of the vehicle's condition and predictive maintenance.
The producer also brought into light an innovative way to utilize water which is a waste product of the fuel cell operation. The water is not discharged outside the vehicle without effect, but after treatment is used to fill the unit's water storage system for the needs of the passengers. The waste heat generated by fuel cells can be also used for interior heating in winter.
The two cars presented at InnoTrans featured several interior variations with seats oriented both laterally and longitudinally. However, their positions are not fixed and the seats can be positioned in any direction as required. In the interior, the Chinese manufacturer tried to impress with very futuristic solutions such as "smart windows" or avant-garde lighting fixtures on the window pillars.
The four-car unit offers 236 seats. The wide centre aisle combined with the relatively tight double seats was surprising, although a 2 + 2 configuration with a 3,300 mm body width could offer considerable space to seated passengers. Given the claimed total number of over 1,000 passengers, the aisle space is thus presumably designed for standing passengers.
The ceiling lights in the boarding areas are also striking, as is the generously designed driver's cab, which featured controls with descriptions in English or Chinese. The vehicle is equipped with CTCS Level 2 (the Chinese equivalent of ETCS Level 1).