The carbon fiber subway train CETROVO 1.0 that CRRC developed for Qingdao Metro Line 1 was launched in Qingdao. It is the world’s first carbon fiber subway train for commercial operation. 11% lighter than traditional subway trains, it offers significant advantages such as lighter weight and higher energy efficiency, leading subway trains in green development.
Made of carbon fiber composites, the trains deliver significant weight reduction. Compared to their traditional metal-based counterparts, their body is 25% lighter, bogie 50%, overall 11%, and their operating energy consumption is cut down by 7%. For each train we can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 130 tons per year. Traditional subway trains are mainly made of metal materials such as steel and aluminum alloys, which cause light-weighting bottlenecks due to their nature. Carbon fiber, however, is known as the “king of new materials” as it is light, strong, resistant to fatigue and corrosion. In fact, its strength is more than 5 times that of steel, but its weight is less than 1/4, making it ideal for light-weighting of rail vehicles.
In the field of rail transit technology, lightweighting refers to minimizing the weight of the vehicle body and reducing the operating energy consumption, while maintaining the performance. It is a key technology for green and low-carbon rail vehicles.
