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Do electric trains need fuel?

Electric trains need not carry the weight of prime movers, transmission and fuel. This is partly offset by the weight of electrical equipment. Regenerative braking returns power to the electrification system so that it may be used elsewhere, by other trains on the same system or returned to the general power grid.



Electric trains do not carry fuel on board in the traditional sense, as they do not have internal combustion engines. Instead, they receive a continuous supply of electricity from an external source, such as overhead catenary wires or a third rail. This electricity is generated at centralized power stations (which may use coal, gas, nuclear, or renewable sources) and transmitted through the grid to the railway's substations. However, some "bi-mode" or "hybrid" trains carry diesel fuel to operate on non-electrified sections of track. Purely electric trains are significantly more energy-efficient than diesel trains because they don't have to carry the weight of a massive fuel tank and can utilize regenerative braking, which turns the train's kinetic energy back into electricity to be fed back into the power lines or stored in batteries. So, while the train itself is "fuel-free," the system as a whole relies on the fuel mix of the local power grid to generate the energy the train consumes to move.

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The power can also come from low-carbon or renewable sources, including geothermal power, hydroelectric power, biomass, solar power, nuclear power and wind turbines. Electric locomotives usually cost 20% less than diesel locomotives, their maintenance costs are 25-35% lower, and cost up to 50% less to run.

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Although commonly called diesels, the locomotives actually are electrically driven. The diesel engine drives an alternator, which produces electricity to run electric motors mounted on the locomotive's axles.

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High speed trains run on electricity instead of diesel fuel. Because much of the world's electricity is still generated at fossil fuel burning power plants, high speed trains do contribute to carbon emissions, however the climate impact of one train is significantly less than that of many personal vehicles.

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Electric trains have always had no direct carbon emissions because they are run entirely by internal electric motors. However, the means of generating the electricity used to power these motors was predominately by burning fossil fuels or coal, both of which produce a large amount of carbon emissions.

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Disadvantages of electric traction include: high capital costs that may be uneconomic on lightly trafficked routes, a relative lack of flexibility (since electric trains need third rails or overhead wires), and a vulnerability to power interruptions.

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Electric trains generally draw power from AC overhead lines. Some DC lines do exist, but they are getting replaced by AC lines. Motors used (traction motors) are generally DC motors. But nowadays they are being phased out in favour of AC motors as AC motors require less maintenance as compared to DC motors.

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No, trains have no gears, since these are unfeasible. That's why their fuel (if any) is converted to electric energy and then used to run motors.

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Electric trains are better for the environment than diesel trains, and they're quieter for both those on board the train and those living close to the railway.

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While initially locomotives were powered by wood and coal, electric and diesel power became more popular in the latter half of the 20th century. What type of fuel does a train use? Diesel electric, electricity or steam power are the three major fuels used by trains.

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While most Shinkansen currently operate at a maximum of 300 kph (186 mph), the E5 “Bullet Trains” of Japan Railways East (JR East) run at up to 320 kph (200 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen, which runs north from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori.

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In addition, the tracks, signals, rail cars and software made in the U.S. are costlier than imports, largely because the government has not funded rail the way European and Asian countries have, experts say.

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The life expectancy of diesel-electric and electric locomotives is expected to be similar—about 25 years. Both types of motive power are subject to technological obsolescence.

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Freight trains are several times more energy-efficient than trucks, because 1) the rolling resistance of the steel wheels of trains is lower than that of truck tires on the road, and 2) trains encounter less proportional wind resistance than trucks since a train car is partly shielded from the headwind by the car in ...

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