Automated Charging of Battery Electric Vehicles on Trains to Accelerate the Mobility Revolution

The decarbonization of the transport sector, covering cargo as well as passenger mobility, plays a key role in the context of the energy revolution as it contributes to 24% of the global CO2 emissions. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are part of the solution, especially if their specific drawbacks, such as limited range and availability of charging infrastructure, are mitigated by combining them with electrified rail transport. This paper describes the implementation of partially automated BEV charging capabilities into rail wagons (motorail), with an emphasis on electric power flow from the overhead catenary system to the BEVs. First, a requirement profile is determined based on different use cases, leading to several design variants relying on different power electronics modules. Subsequently, an automated underbody charging interface for the BEV is discussed in depth supported by actual test rig data.