Saft wins $1.7 million order from CSR Zhuzhou to supply onboard battery systems for new Malaysia KTM EMU trainsets

Saft, leader in the design, development and manufacture of high-tech batteries for industry, has been awarded a $1.7 million contract by CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd. to supply the onboard battery systems that will provide reliable, low-maintenance support for critical control and safety circuits on 38 six-car EMU (electric multiple unit) trainsets under construction for Malaysia’s KTM Komuter commuter train service. The battery systems, based on Saft’s specialized MATRICS MRX rail batteries, will be manufactured at Saft’s Zhuhai plant that is proving a vital local asset in the company’s continued growth in China’s rapidly expanding railway sector.

In 2010, CSR Zhuzhou, China’s leading rolling stock manufacturer, won the order to supply 38 six-car EMU trainsets for the Malaysia KTM. The vehicles, with a top speed of 140 km per hour, will replace existing inter-urban vehicles on the busiest South-North intercity line in Kuala Lumpur.

The 110 V battery systems, based on Saft MRX batteries, will provide reliable, low-maintenance onboard backup power to support emergency lighting, air conditioning, door operation and communication systems for the Malaysia KTM EMUs in the event of an interruption to the main power supply. Each battery system will be supplied as a complete unit, ready to install, in a stainless steel raft made in China.

‘This latest major order for the Malaysia KTM trainsets, following other recent orders from rail OEMs in China for export projects to Hong Kong, Iran, Saudia Arabia and Thailand, is further proof of Saft’s leadership position in global railway applications, as well as our increasing penetration in the Chinese market,’ says Olivier Amiel, the General Manager of Saft in China. ‘A key factor in this growth is our Zhuhai plant, which enables us to provide not only extensive local service support for our growing customer base in China, but also local battery system engineering and assembly.’

MRX specialized rail batteries

Saft MATRICS MRX batteries are the ideal choice for this type of rapid transit application as they have been purpose-designed to deliver maximum performance, reliability and low TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). Together with Saft’s specially designed battery box, the whole system provides the low maintenance and long service life benefits of sintered/PBE technology within a compact package that shows a major size and volume advantage compared with conventional batteries. The MATRICS MRX design is extremely reliable and does not suffer from the ‘sudden death’ which can affect some batteries, even in extreme temperatures ranging from -30° to +70°C.

Saft is delivering the battery systems to CSR Zhuzhou over a nine month schedule from April to October 2011.