ABB, Skoda Group tie up to supply new battery-electric trains for Czech railways
24 Jan 2025
Electrical and instrumentation group ABB has entered into a long-term agreement with transportation group Skoda, under which ABB will supply its Pro Series battery packs to power Skoda’s battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) operating on Czech rail system.
ABB will initially supply 195 battery packs for 15 BEMUs ordered by Czech Railways (Ceske drahy), along with a 15-year service agreement.
ABB’s Pro 8C-850 traction battery packs, launched recently, is well suited for Czech Railways that operates BEMUs on a partially-electrified network.
These battery packs are compact and lightweight, and engineered to optimise vehicle performance while significantly reducing maintenance and downtime, according to ABB.
Skoda will use the battery packs to equip the new fleet of battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) ordered by the Czech national railway operator. The new fleet of BEMUs will help Czech railways offer a more practical solution in its transition to more sustainable operations.
The order, with a value less than $20 million, covers the delivery of 195 Pro 8C-850 battery packs for 15 BEMUs and a 15-year service agreement.
This is the first order for ABB traction technology from Skoda Group, a Czech engineering company specialized in rolling stock manufacturing.
ABB, a global technology leader in electrification and automation, offers solutions for industries for improving performance and efficiency on a sustainable basis.
Skoda Group, with a diverse portfolio of modern vehicles, manufactures a range of public transport vehicles and components, including low-floor trams, suburban train units, metro train sets, electric buses and trolleybuses, as well as control and drive systems for transport systems.
With operations in the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine and Turkey, the Skoda Group employs 10,000 people at its production sites. The group reported Euro 1.38 billion in revenues in 2023.
