Forsee Power to Equip Skoda Trains

PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News:

Forsee Power (FR0014005SB3 – FORSE), the expert in smart battery systems for electric light and heavy vehicles, announces they have signed a contract with Skoda to equip electric trains with high-power battery systems.

This contract for 4 trains reinforces Forsee Power’s presence in the rail sector and confirms the Group's strategy to strengthen its rail division after the acquisition of Centum Adetel Transportation (Holiwatt) in 2021.

Skoda accelerates train electrification through conversion and innovation

Skoda is a world leader in train manufacturing and is accelerating its transition to zero-emission rail vehicles, widening its offering of battery-powered trains, and rolling stocks.

The first phase of Skoda’s project with Forsee Power includes the conversion of 4 existing electric multiple unit (EMU) trains, adding a battery system to allow autonomy when no catenaries are available. The use of batteries not only prevents CO₂ emission, but it also avoids the very high costs related to tracks electrification infrastructures when the railways network is not connected to the grid. Finally, this EMU battery allows a transition to CO₂-free transport without railway line operation stop to guarantee public service mission continuity.

The retrofit of existing EMU trains is a first step. In the meantime, Forsee Power is preparing for the next phase of Skoda’s BEMU trains. In fact, the project covers 4 trains with an extension option to serial production.

FORSEE PULSE RAIL will allow 80km of autonomy to Skoda regional trains

The rail transport market is a strategic area for the Forsee Power Group who acquired Centum Adetel Transportation (Holiwatt) in 2021, providing Forsee Power with an offer of chargers, wayside energy storage systems, ultra-high-power battery systems, and converters for a wider range of application. It completed the existing Forsee Power offer of battery systems, including FORSEE PULSE RAIL, a lithium-ion LTO battery technology dedicated to the rail market.

FORSEE PULSE RAIL traction battery systems will be placed on the roof of the Skoda trains, including a Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS). Forsee Power’s solution will allow more than 80 km of autonomy. The battery system will have ability to recover the breaking energy, which will contribute to significatively reduce the energy consumption from the grid.

“This contract with Skoda is an important step in Forsee Power’s rail strategy. Our R&D teams have developed a panel of technologies to address the challenges of rail applications electrification such as autonomy while ensuring a high level of power required by BEMU Skoda’s regional trains. We are looking forward to furthering our partnership to contribute to the next generation of battery trains (BEMU) that Skoda is developing, accelerating the decarbonation of rail transport in Europe” explains Sébastien Rembauville-Nicolle, VP Business Development at Forsee Power.

Forsee Power battery systems will be manufactured in Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, France, where the Group employs 200 people.

About Forsee Power

Forsee Power is a French industrial group specializing in smart battery systems for sustainable electric transport (light vehicles, off-highway vehicles, buses, trains and ships). A major player in Europe, Asia and North America, the Group designs, assembles, and supplies energy management systems based on cells that are among the most robust in the market and provides installation, commissioning, and maintenance on site and remotely. More than 2,000 buses and 100,000 LEV have been equipped with Forsee Power’s batteries. The Group also offers financing solutions (battery leasing) and second-life solutions for transport batteries. Forsee Power and its 650 employees are committed to sustainable development and the Group has obtained the Gold medal from leading sustainability rating agency EcoVadis. For more information: www.forseepower.com | @ForseePower