日立、イギリスで新型バッテリーを搭載した高速鉄道の試験走行を開始。新型車両は排出ガスと燃料コストを最大30%削減できると予測。2026年にはドイツを含む欧州市場にも導入へ。

Hitachi Rail, a Hitachi group company in the railway systems business, began test runs of pioneering battery-equipped intercity trains connecting cities in August in collaboration with UK-based Trans Pennine Express and Angel Trains. The Class 802's diesel engine output has been increased by 140 kilowatts to 700 kilowatts, and the fuel tanks have been enlarged, making it suitable for long-distance operation on non-electrified sections. Many Class 802 trains have been introduced by UK railway companies. Great Western Railway will introduce 22 five-car trains and seven nine-car trains, while Hull Trains purchased five five-car trains for 60 million pounds (approximately 11.5 billion yen). Trans Pennine Express, which will be conducting the test runs this time, plans to introduce 19 five-car trains, and Angel Trains has also decided to introduce them. Hitachi is leveraging its global expertise to launch the world's first passenger battery train in Japan and Europe's first battery-hybrid train, Masaccio, in Italy in 2022. The company aims to introduce Euro Masaccio in other European markets, including Germany, from 2026, and the technology is evolving rapidly.