NEWS
Bombardier Zefiro Very-Highspeed Train Sales Tracking Well WITh fIRM orders for 210 trains, Bombardier’s 360 km/h (224 mi/h) ZEFIRO family has become one of the most successful platforms in the global high speed rail market. Bombardier recently announced the signing of a contract with Trenitalia (Italian Railways) for the delivery of 50 very-highspeed V300 ZEFIRO trainsets. The V300 ZEFIRO is developed in partnership with AnsaldoBreda, a subsidiary of the Finmeccanica group of Italy.
The V300ZEFIRO has a capacity for 600 passengers. Its unusually high acceleration enables the train to ensure excellent travel times even in winding routes. It is fully interoperable and will provide cross-border service, taking Trenitalia’s passengers to other European countries without the need for changing trains. The first order for trains from the ZEFIRO family came from China in October 2007, with a contract to supply ZEFIRO 250 km/h trains.
Since then, Bombardier was awarded contracts to deliver 80 units of the ZEFIRO 380 model and additional 80 ZEFIRO 250 km/h trains, all ordered by the Ministry of Railways in China (MOR). The first-generation ZEFIRO 250 is already operating in China. Stephane Rambaud Measson, President, Passengers Division, Bombardier Transportation commented: “Our success in this market segment demonstrates that customers have welcomed
the innovation we have brought into making the ZEFIRO high speed family about more than just speed.” He added, “The ZEFIRO is a game changer in this industry as in addition to high speed it also offers costefficiency, coupled with high capacity capabilities, pleasing aesthetics, reliability, safety, durability and environmentally friendly transportation solutions.” One of the reasons for the ZEFIRO’s success, Bombardier claims, is its groundbreaking aerodynamic design which has been developed by leveraging the company’s distinctive transportation and aerospace expertise. The use of AeroEfficient, a tool developed in collaboration with Bombardier Aerospace, enabled Bombardier to minimize the aerodynamic resistance of the ZEFIRO train and save up to 12 percent of the energy consumed by standard-design trains. The aerodynamics also optimize crosswind stability, aerodynamic drag and pressure pulses. Advanced aerodynamics and energy-saving technologies, Bombardier say, make it the world’s most energy-efficient VHS train.
New Climatic Wind Tunnel for Scania
UK Starts Operating World’s Largest Wind Farm Construction was completed on the world’s largest offshore wind farm in September 2010 and production of electricity started soon after. There are 100 Vestas V90 wind turbines that have a total capacity of 300 MW — enough to supply more than 200,000 homes per year with clean energy. The Thanet project is located approximately 12 km off Foreness Point, the most eastern part of Kent, England. According to The Guardian newspaper, Thanet may not hold the title for very long. Two larger offshore wind farms are currently under construction (Greater Gabbard, 500 MW capacity and London Array, 1 GW). As both of these are in the UK, Great Britain will continue to be a world leader in offshore wind.
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Leading truck manufacturer Scania will build a new climatic wind tunnel at its research and development centre in Södertälje, Sweden. The wind tunnel will be used for the testing of heavy duty trucks’ and buses’ comfort, road safety and environmental performance in different climates. The facility, the only one of its kind in Europe says Scania, will be completed in 2013. A wind tunnel that can simulate realistic environments, ranging from dry Arctic cold to humid tropical heat as well as various wind conditions, will make Scania’s development work more efficient and flexible, as the planning and transport of vehicles to different climates around the world will be reduced or offset “In various stages of the development phase, there are many advantages in being able to test vehicles and individual components independently of seasons and without having to transport them to another climate. Investing in a wind tunnel will strengthen our competitiveness, since it will make shorter development times and higher product quality possible,” says SvenÅke Edström, Senior Vice President Truck, Cab and Bus Chassis Development. Jacobs Engineering of Pasadena, Calif., will provide engineering, procurement and construction services to design, build and commission the wind tunnel, according to a source familiar with the project. The facility will provide a complete simulation of solar, rain, snow and soiling conditions and speeds up to 100km/h (62 mi/h).. WIND TUNNEL INTERNATIONAL | 2010