FV-E991 series

FV-E991 series
FV-E991 series
Entered service	March 2022 (planned)
Number under construction	1 set (2 vehicles)
Formation	2 cars per unit
Operator(s)	JR East
Line(s) served	Future: Tsurumi Line; Nambu Line (Branch);
Specifications
Doors	Three per side
Maximum speed	100 km/h (60 mph)
Traction motors	VVVF inverter: 1C2M × 2 units
Power output	95kW x 4
Acceleration	2.3 km/h/s
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The FV-E991 series (FV-E991系), nicknamed HYBARI, is a future hydrogen fuel cell electric multiple unit (EMU) train type to be operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) from 2022.^[1]^[2]

This series will be used as a test unit to collect data for future development and deployment of fuel cell vehicles. Starting in 2021, JR East will conduct trials on the Tsurumi and Nambu lines and expects to have the technology ready for commercial application by 2024. On 4 June 2020, the company announced that it would invest ¥4 billion into the development of this series, which is the new generation of the Fuel Cell New Energy Train experimental unit.^[3]

The FV acronym (of the series numbering: FV-E991) stands for Fuel cell Vehicle and the E for East (because this series is to be operated by East Japan Railway Company). This series nickname HYBARI comes from "HYdrogen-HYBrid Advanced Rail vehicle for Innovation".^[2]

Fuel cell system[]

This series is equipped with a hybrid system that uses hydrogen as fuel and an electric battery as a power source. It works by generating electricity with compressed hydrogen (stored in the train) and oxygen (from the air). Electricity is then stored on batteries that is to power the electric motors and other systems of the train. Fuel cell vehicles only emit water and heat, so they are considered zero-emission vehicles (ZEV).^[1] The maximum speed of these units is expected to be 100 km/h (62 mph) and the range 140 km (87 mi) when the storage units are filled at 70 MPa (690 atm) (maximum filling pressure). When those are filled at 35 MPa (350 atm) the expected range is 80 km (50 mi).^[1]

The trailer car will have the hydrogen storage units installed on the roof. There will be 4 carbon fiber banks, each with five 51-liter modules. That makes a total of 1020 liter per unit. There will be two pumping units, one on the roof (near the hydrogen storage unit) and the other one under the floor (near the fuel cell device) to pump hydrogen from the banks to the fuel cell device. The fuel cell device will have two 180kW polymer fuel cell stacks and will be installed under the floor. Those will be able to operate at temperatures down to −10 °C (14 °F) and supply electricity for two 25kWh li-ion electric batteries. They will be located under the powered car floor. Those batteries power a VVVF converter with twin inverters to feed the four 95kW traction motors.^[3]The series will be equipped with regenerative brakes, which will charge the batteries during the braking.^[2]
Toyota Motor Corporation will develop the fuel cell device, while Hitachi Ltd. will develop the hybrid system.^[2]

Design[]

The design of the train will convey a sense of speed and give a futuristic image. The train will be painted in a blue splash pattern to represent the moistening of the earth and the water generated from the fuel cell device. The trains will have the HYBARI logo on the front and another on the side in the middle of the train, on a side of the junction between cars. This logo is to represent the introduction of new energy for vehicles as the breath of spring onto the land.^[2]

Goals[]

Contribitung to reduce carbon dioxe emissions[]

The main goal of this project is to create a rolling stock that operates using clean energy, such as hydrogen, to minimize the environmental impact. Hydrogen does not emit carbon dioxide or any other polluting substance to the atmosphere and can be produced using renewable energy. This will help to curb global warming and to diversify energy sources.^[2]

Collaboration to develop hybrid fuel cell vehicles[]

Combining JR East's railway rolling stock design and manufacturing, Hitachi's railway hybrid systems, and Toyota's technologies used to develop the Mirai fuel cell electric automobile and SORA fuel cell bus, those three companies will adapt the vehicles fuel cells for the railway industry. They will try to create hybrid fuel cell rolling stock, which needs a higher power output than cars and buses.^[2]

Operations[]

This series is scheduled to operate on the following lines^[1] by March 2022 as a test unit:^[2]

Tsurumi Line
Nambu Main Line (Shitte - Musashi-Nakahara)
Nambu Line Shitte branch line

Formation[]

The FV-E991 series will be formed as follows, consisting of two cars.^[1]

Car No.	1	2
Designation	Mzc	Tzc'
Numbering	FV-E991	FV-E990

External links[]

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "JR東日本、水素燃料電池試験車 FV-E991系2両を製造＿2021年度から実証試験" (in Japanese). Japan. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "JR East, Hitachi and Toyota to Develop Hybrid (Fuel Cell) Railway Vehicles Powered by Hydrogen". Toyota. October 6, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "JR East to trial fuel cell multiple-unit". railwaygazette.com. DVV Media International. 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.

[tetsudo-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "JR東日本、水素燃料電池試験車 FV-E991系2両を製造＿2021年度から実証試験" (in Japanese). Japan. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2020.

[toyota-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "JR East, Hitachi and Toyota to Develop Hybrid (Fuel Cell) Railway Vehicles Powered by Hydrogen". Toyota. October 6, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2021.

[rg07062019-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b "JR East to trial fuel cell multiple-unit". railwaygazette.com. DVV Media International. 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.

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