Saft nickel batteries to deliver vital back

Saft nickel batteries to deliver vital back-up power for Alstom’s
Chennai metro trains
Saft’s new SRM+ high energy nickel-based batteries will provide back-up power for 42 metro trainsets
that Alstom is building for Chennai, in India.
Paris, November 6, 2013 – Saft, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of advanced technology
batteries for industry, has won a multi-million euros contract for the onboard batteries for 42 train sets
currently under construction by Alstom for the new Metro system that will serve Chennai, India’s fifth
largest agglomeration with a population of over 8 million.
The Chennai metro project, which is the first major order for Saft’s new SRM+ high energy rail batteries,
shows how Saft is responding to the significant opportunities presented by India, one of the world’s
largest railway markets. Currently, train passenger numbers in India are in excess of 8 billion annually,
and are predicted to increase by a further 5 percent in 2013-14. 45 Indian cities already have
populations in excess of 1 million and more than 10 urban rail projects are in progress or planned
across the country.
Alstom is supplying 42, 4-car train sets for Phase 1 of the Chennai metro project that consists of two
interconnected lines, serving 32 stations over a 45 km route. These lines will carry more than 500,000
people daily with frequencies between two trains as short as 3 minutes. The first 9 trains are being
manufactured in the Alstom Transport Lapa plant in Brazil, while the other 33 trains are being produced
in India, in the newly built Sri City plant, Alstom’s first rolling stock factory in India. The entire project is
scheduled to be completed by 2014-2015.
“To deliver world-class solutions for the expansion of India’s rail infrastructure, we need to work with
world- class suppliers,” says Henri Poupart-Lafarge, President of Alstom Transport. Saft is therefore the
ideal partner for the Chennai metro project based on the proven reliability and performance of its
railway batteries. Furthermore, the premium service support provided by Saft’s Bangalore facility will
help us achieve our target for a high level of localization.”
“The Chennai metro battery project is a vital breakthrough with a key strategic OEM in the BRICs area
that confirms the successful launch of our new SRM+ batteries developed to provide rail operators with
exceptional reliability and reduced operating costs throughout a 15-year plus service life,” says Xavier
Delacroix, General Manager of Saft’s IBG Division. Effective project coordination between Saft and
Alstom’s new factory in India will be provided by the world-class AMCO Saft India Limited factory in
Bidadi, Bangalore.”
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www.saftbatteries.com
Two battery systems, each comprising 85 of Saft's specialised SRM+ rail batteries housed in a
customized, sliding under floor tray, will be fitted by Alstom to the Chennai metro train sets. They will
provide reliable backup power for up to 60 minutes to support emergency lighting, air conditioning,
door operation and communication systems in the event of an interruption to the main power supply.
SRM+ combines Saft’s SRM sintered/PBE construction; field proven over 20 years of service and millions
of track kilometres, with the advanced plate and electrolyte technology deployed on its industry leading
MRX design. This ensures total reliability for high energy backup applications, even in the toughest
operating conditions, including the extreme temperatures experienced in India.
About Saft
Saft (Euronext: Saft) is a world leader in the design and manufacture of advanced technology batteries for
industry. The Group is the world’s leading manufacturer of nickel batteries and primary lithium batteries for the
industrial infrastructure and processes, transportation, civil and military electronics markets. Saft is the world
leader in space and defence batteries with its Li-ion technologies which are also being deployed in the energy
storage, transportation and telecommunication markets. Saft’s 3,800 employees present in 18 countries, its 15
manufacturing sites and extensive sales network all contribute to accelerating the Group’s growth for the future.
For more information, visit Saft at www.saftbatteries.com
Press contact:
Saft
Jill Ledger, Saft Corporate Communications and Institutional Relations Director
Tel: +33 1 49 93 17 77, e-mail : [email protected]
Marie-Christine Guihéneuf, Saft IBG Communication Manager,
Tel: + 33 1 49 93 17 16, e-mail : [email protected]
Six Degrees
Andrew Bartlett, Tél. : + 44 (0) 118 900 0860, e-mail : [email protected]
FTI Consulting
Caroline Guilhaume, Tél. : +33 1 47 03 68 10, [email protected]
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