Up to 114 Skoda trams to operate in Rhein-Neckar (Germany). With Skeleton supercaps

Skoda Electric will adopt Skeleton Technologies ultracapacitor systems for 114 trams to be delivered to Mannheim, Heidelberg, and Ludwigshafen in Germany. The contract has been awarded to Skoda Transportation by Rhein-Neckar transport authority RNV on June 2018. Skoda Transportation will use Skoda Electric traction system ‘powered’ with Skeleton ultracapacitors.

Skeleton ultracaps for 114 trams in Germany

The contract between Skoda Transportation and RNV covers 80 trams of three lenghts, with options for further 34 trams. All those vehicles will be equipped with ultracapacitor system (a device that is mounted also on mild hybrid buses such as the Mercedes eCitaro), that recuperates the braking energy of the trams and uses it for re-acceleration, saving energy and decreasing costs.

Skeleton Technologies was founded in 2009 in Estonia and defines itself as the global leader in graphene-based ultracapacitors and energy-storage systems. “We have raised over 51 million euros to support manufacturing scale-up in Germany and in Estonia and grown our headcount from 4 to 115 people”, says the company.

Skeleton Technologies, new plans coming soon

“Škoda has an excellent track record in innovative and energy-efficient trams, and ultracapacitors are a perfect fit for the locomotive industry due to their ability to capture braking energy in seconds, their high efficiency, and their long lifetime. In 2019, we plan to make public announcement for additional locomotive projects currently in the works. Projects like these show that we do not need to go to China or the United States for battery and ultracapacitor production. Skeleton has proven that energy storage manufacturing is alive and well in Europe, and European companies can work together to bring huge benefits to the European industry and market”, said Skeleton Technologies CEO Taavi Madiberk.

“Skeleton Technologies brings the necessary quality mindset to critical applications. The highest power density and efficiency in the industry provides us with a very clear competitive advantage. We have worked together with Skeleton Technologies to develop the most efficient energy storage solution for modern trams, keeping in mind the power restrictions for grid infrastructure in a number of cities around Europe”, said Stanislav Wizur, Škoda Electric Strategic Purchasing.