Abstract

This paper introduces an improved operation mode called Fast-swap charging mode (FSCM) for on-board-powered light rail (LR) networks. The main concept is to swap the depleted energy storage units for fresh, pre-charged units after the light rail vehicle arrives at the first/last station, instead of charging them during daily operation. The proposed operation mode allows the empty energy storage components to be charged at night, so that a cheaper kWh rate can be used. Moreover, a Catenary-Free system is achieved while avoiding well-known catenary malfunctions. A system efficiency model is introduced to compare the proposed FSCM and the normal charging modes in terms of efficiency and cost. Finally, a combination of analysis and simulation tests is used to demonstrate the attractive performance characteristics of the proposed FSCM.