Croatia Launches Its First Battery-Powered Electric Train
CROATIA: Teh national train operator, HŽPP, has launched its first battery-electric multiple unit (BEMU) on the Zagreb – Bjelovar line, wich is electrified up to Gradec at 25 kV 50 Hz.
The event on May 13 was graced by Transport Minister Oleg Butković.
Back in December of last year,HŽPP partnered with local manufacturer Končar KEV for a €17.1 million deal to create a prototype BEMU and a fully battery-powered unit.This also includes six charging stations located in cities like Split and Osijek. Notably, €13.3 million of this funding came from the National Recovery & Resilience Plan.
A contract for four additional production BEMUs and four more battery units is anticipated to be finalized this month.
This three-car low-floor BEMU measures in at an impressive length of 56.2 meters and can carry up to 157 seated passengers along with room for another 158 standing riders. It’s equipped with modern amenities such as CCTV surveillance, wheelchair access ramps, an accessible restroom, and bike storage options.
The vehicle boasts an operational capacity of up to eighteen hours or about480 kilometers daily—reaching speeds of up to160 km/h when using overhead power lines and120 km/h on battery alone. The energy comes from twelve INT-53 Energy modular lithium-ion batteries provided by Leclanché that have a total capacity of631 kWh; these can be charged via overhead lines or dedicated charging stations.
An advanced thermal management system ensures efficient charging cycles while keeping the batteries cool by treating them as one cohesive unit within the control system.
If you look at Croatia’s major cities—only Zagreb and Rijeka are linked through electrified tracks; routes connecting Zagreb with Osijek and Split remain only partially electrified necessitating diesel engines or traction changes along those journeys.
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