Saft battery systems will help Basel`s new Bombardier FLEXITY

Saft battery systems will help Basel’s new Bombardier FLEXITY trams
deliver reliable passenger services
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The 61 new FLEXITY trams that Bombardier is constructing for the city of Basel in Switzerland will each be
fitted with two Saft onboard battery systems - a total of 122 battery systems.
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Saft MSX battery systems will provide emergency backup power capable of driving the tram for short periods
when the external power supply is interrupted.
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Main production run of battery systems will be delivered between 2015 and 2017.
Paris, December 21, 2015 – Saft, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of high-tech industrial
batteries, has been awarded a major contract by Bombardier to supply the onboard battery systems for
61 FLEXITY trams under construction for Basel, Switzerland’s third most populous city. The Saft MSX
nickel-based battery systems will provide emergency onboard backup power capable of driving the
tram for short periods when the external power supply from the catenary is interrupted.
The contract for the new Basel tram fleet is a very significant development for Saft in Europe’s light rail
sector which is currently growing at around 15 percent year on year.
Bombardier has developed the FLEXITY tram design to set new standards in urban mobility with a
combination of 100 percent low-floor technology for ease of passenger access and conventional wheelset bogies that ensure a perfectly smooth ride and low-noise operation. In 2012, Bombardier
Transportation signed a contract for the delivery of up to 61 FLEXITY trams with the City of Basel’s
Transport Authority (BVB). At €184 million, it is the biggest order placed by the BVB in its 116-year
history. The new trams are being manufactured in Bautzen, Germany and in Vienna, Austria and will
eventually replace the 101 Basel trams currently in service.
Each FLEXITY tram is being fitted with two 24 V Saft MSX battery systems sized to provide emergency
short-term backup power for the traction systems. They will ensure that if the main overhead catenary
supply is interrupted the vehicle will be able to continue to travel on to a section where power is
available. The onboard batteries will also enable the tram to be driven for short distances in areas
where there is no catenary, such as in the depot.
Hans Rudolf Feuz, Vice President Sales Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation said: “The Basel
tram network, with its high frequency operation and large daily ridership is a particularly demanding
tram network and the onboard battery systems play a critical role in ensuring the total continuity of
passenger services. The Saft MSX batteries offer a compact, lightweight and powerful design that fits
perfectly with our FLEXITY concept that emphasises energy efficiency, economy and ecology.”
The Saft battery systems for the Basel metro trains each comprise “19 MSX200” batteries. MSX is a
specialised rail battery that delivers high power performance combined with high cycling capability over
a very wide temperature range of - 30˚C to + 50˚C. MSX provides a compact lightweight package that
enables train operators to optimise the size of their onboard battery system.
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In 2013, Saft delivered 4 battery systems for the first two Basel FLEXITY trams that are now in test
operation. Delivery of battery systems for the remaining 59 trams started in 2015 and will be
completed in 2017.
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About Saft
Saft (Euronext: Saft) is a world leading designer and manufacturer 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 deployed in the energy storage,
transportation and telecommunication network markets. More than 4,000 employees in 18 countries, 14
manufacturing sites and an extensive sales network all contribute to accelerating the Group’s growth for the
future.
Saft batteries. Designed for industry. www.saftbatteries.com
Press contacts:
Saft
Karen Hollington, Corporate Communication Manager
Tel.: +33 1 49 93 17 68, e-mail: [email protected]
Marie-Christine Guihéneuf, IBG Communication Manager
Tel.: +33 1 49 93 17 16, e-mail: [email protected]
Six Degrees
Andrew Bartlett, Tel.: +44 118 900 0860, e-mail: [email protected]
French | West | Vaughan
Melissa Timney, Tel.: +1-919-277-1165, e-mail: [email protected]
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