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Heramba Electric's Kiepe Electric Subsidiary to Supply Traction Inverters for LOHR & SNCF's DRAISY Project Providing Revolutionary Very Light Train for the Region

In This Article:

  • 100% battery-powered light train DRAISY is intended to give new impulse to rural railway lines

  • KIEPE provides the traction package for DRAISY with the Kiepe Traction Inverter (KTI) including the electric motors

DÜSSELDORF, Germany and ATLANTA, Sept. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heramba Electric plc (NASDAQ: PITA), a global technology company focused on decarbonizing public and commercial transportation, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Kiepe Electric, is contributing to a new regional public transit initiative. The project, known as DRAISY, is a very light, powerful railbus developed by French railway operator SNCF and transport system manufacturer LOHR. Kiepe Electric will supply the highly efficient, energy-saving traction system, which includes the Kiepe Traction Inverter (KTI) and electric motors.

Ulrich Lauel, Global Head Rail Systems at KIEPE, said, "The DRAISY project fits in with KIEPE's mission, because we want to create an emission-free future with innovative, reliable and environmentally friendly mobility solutions. I welcome the diversity in regional public transit, as embodied by the DRAISY light train. Especially in rural areas, it is not just about faster, stronger, further - what is needed are economical and reliable solutions for sustainable passenger transport. Our team is enthusiastically working on this in this very innovative light train project."

Economical rail transport in rural areas

The DRAISY project consists of a very light, 14-meter-long passenger train. This rail vehicle is intended to give new impulse to shorter railway lines in rural areas. In France, it is estimated that there are almost 9,000 kilometers of such local routes in rural communities. Given this potential, it is hardly surprising that the project won in the "Digitization and decarbonization of rail transport" category as part of the fourth edition of the French government's Future Investment Program. In addition to SNCF and LOHR, the winning project team includes partners GCK Battery, Stations-e and IRT Railenium.

100% battery-powered electric light train

The DRAISY railbus is a battery-powered electric passenger train with a range of 150 kilometers that can be quickly charged in stations along the route without affecting passenger service. The train, with a top speed of 100 km/h, has space for up to 80 passengers. The vehicle weight of 20 tons is only about two thirds of a conventional regional railcar. The DRAISY concept assumes significantly lower operating and maintenance costs compared to current regional trains. The vehicle includes a large number of components and systems that are already available on the market, such as the KIEPE traction package with traction inverter. DRAISY is expected to be in operation in Alsace from 2026.