On January 10, the CETROVO 1.0, jointly developed by CRRC and Qingdao Metro Group, was officially put into commercial operation on Qingdao Metro Line 1. This marks the world’s first use of carbon fiber composites in the primary load-bearing structures of a subway train for commercial passenger service.
The car body, bogies, and other primary load-bearing structures of the CETROVO 1.0 are made from carbon fiber composites, offering significant advantages such as lighter weight, higher energy efficiency, enhanced comfort, and superior material strength. Compared to traditional metal-based vehicles, the body is 25% lighter, the bogie is 50% lighter, and the overall weight is reduced by about 11%. The train’s operating energy consumption is reduced by 7%, and each train can cut down carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 130 tons per year. Thanks to the use of carbon fiber composites, the train runs more smoothly, providing superior vibration reduction and isolation. Compared to metal-based subway trains, the carbon fiber version also offers greater strength and a higher safety factor. The carbon fiber bogie frame enhances impact resistance, fatigue resistance, and extends the vehicle’s service life.
In the field of rail transit technology, lightweighting refers to reducing the weight of the vehicle body while ensuring performance, which in turn reduces operating energy consumption. This is a crucial technology for achieving green, low-carbon rail vehicles.
