On July 17, 2024, CRRC Changchun Railway Coach Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "CRRC Changchun Passenger Car") released the first built-in bogie product in China in Changchun, Jilin Province. This breakthrough not only marks that China has made new progress in the development of core technologies and key components of high-speed rail, but also lays the foundation for the further development of high-speed rail technology in the future. This article will provide an in-depth analysis and commentary on this event in terms of technical details, economic impact, environmental benefits, and future prospects.
The bogie is the running system of rail vehicles and one of the core components of high-speed EMUs. The traditional external bogie designs the axle box, frame, a series of suspension and other components on the outside of the wheels, while the built-in bogies released by CRRC Changqing this time move these parts to the inside of the wheels. This design not only reduces the size, but also brings a number of technical advantages.
1. Weight reduction and energy saving: The built-in bogie is about 25% smaller in volume and 20% lighter than the external bogie, thus reducing the energy consumption of the vehicle by 15%. This data means that under the same operating conditions, the energy consumption of the EMU will be significantly reduced, and the operating costs will also be reduced.
2. Reduce wear and noise: The wear of the wheels and rails of the built-in bogie is reduced by about 30%, and the wheel-rail noise is reduced by about 2 decibels. This not only increases the service life of the EMU, but also improves the passenger experience. For example, the reduction of wheel and rail wear will reduce the number of maintenance times and costs of the EMU, thereby reducing the maintenance cost throughout the life cycle.
3. Reduced maintenance costs: The maintenance costs of lines and bogies are reduced by 15% throughout the life cycle. This economic benefit is not only beneficial for operators, but also provides passengers with more economical travel options.
Figure: CRRC Changqing released the first built-in bogie in China
The built-in bogie of CRRC Changchun has not only achieved a breakthrough in technology, but its economic impact cannot be ignored. First of all, by reducing energy consumption and reducing maintenance costs, the operating costs of EMUs will be significantly reduced. For high-speed rail operators, this means higher economic efficiency and stronger market competitiveness. Secondly, the lightweight design and energy-saving characteristics of the built-in bogie make the EMU more economical and environmentally friendly during operation, which is in line with the current global trend of energy conservation and emission reduction.
Taking the CRH380B EMU as an example, its energy consumption is about 0.4 kWh per kilometer. The 15% reduction in energy consumption of the built-in bogie means that energy consumption is reduced to around 0.34 kWh per kilometer. This will bring significant economic benefits to EMUs that run long distances.
Environmental benefits are another highlight of the CRRC long-distance built-in bogie. By reducing energy consumption and reducing wheel and rail wear, the environmental impact of the EMU during operation will be significantly reduced. Specifically, reduced energy consumption means less energy consumption and lower carbon emissions, which is important in the fight against global climate change. At the same time, the reduction of wheel and rail wear also reduces the consumption of materials and the generation of waste, which is in line with the concept of sustainable development.
The built-in bogie of CRRC Changchun is not only of great strategic importance in China, but also has the potential of the international market. Zhou Dianmai said that the purpose of developing this bogie is to enter the international market, and the future will form a whole series of products including 350km/h, 300km/h, 250km/h, 200km/h, and even 160. This will not only help enhance the international competitiveness of China's high-speed rail, but also lay a solid technical foundation for the "Belt and Road" high-speed rail products to go global.
In addition, a number of technological innovations of the built-in bogie, such as composite leaf spring technology and oil and gas suspension technology, provide new possibilities for the further development of high-speed rail technology in the future. The promotion and application of these technologies will further improve the speed, stability and comfort of high-speed rail, and promote the continuous progress of high-speed rail technology.
The built-in bogie released by CRRC Changchun is not only an important milestone in the development of China's high-speed rail technology, but also an important driving force for the technological progress of global high-speed rail. Its performance in terms of technical details, economic impact, environmental benefits and future prospects all show its great potential and value. With the continuous maturity of technology and the continuous expansion of the market, the built-in bogie is expected to play a greater role in the development of high-speed rail in the future and promote China's high-speed rail technology to a higher level.
Through this technological innovation, CRRC Changqing not only demonstrates its technical strength in the field of high-speed rail, but also provides a new direction for the development of global high-speed rail technology. The successful development and application of built-in bogies will provide strong support for the green, energy-saving and efficient development of high-speed rail technology.
