Swiss low-carbon, lithium-ion (Li-ion) cell-based energy storage solutions provider Leclanché and India-based research and development-focused railway products developer Medha Group have formed a partnership in the railroad and commercial markets, with Leclanchè providing high-energy battery packs for various rail and industrial applications.

The partnership agreement allows for Leclanché to provide its Li-ion battery pack solutions, including but not limited to its INT-53 and INT-39 high-energy battery packs, to Medha for a wide range of projects including auxiliary and maintenance railway vehicles as well as passenger trains. The collaboration covers the European, Middle Eastern and African markets.

Medha Group specialises in the design and manufacture of “world-class high-tech electronic products” including traction converters, auxiliary power converters and on-board systems for applications on locomotives, trainsets, coaches, railroad stations and railyards. The company has extensive presence in the industry with more than 30 500 converters and 35 000 on-board systems installed in leading manufacturers’ trains in more than 30 countries.

“Leclanchè is proud to partner with Medha Group to support its customers in a wide variety of markets and applications – both rail transport and heavy-duty vehicles,” Leclanché E-Mobility CEO Phil Broad stated. “The combination of Medha’s traction and related electronics, together with Leclanché’s advanced Li-ion battery packs, will create a strong and attractive offering for leading train manufacturers and [original- equipment manufacturer] commercial vehicle designers across three continents.”

Member of the board of directors of Medha Holdings Lorenzo Stendardi added: “Medha is a trusted and reliable manufacturing provider to many of the world’s leading railroad and vehicle manufacturers. Leclanché’s advanced battery technology has a similar reputation of reliability, extreme safety and long-life even under the harshest environmental conditions. We look forward to our collaboration.”

Leclanché’s INT-53 Energy battery packs are used by many of the major railroad manufacturers worldwide, in both trains and locomotives. Leclanché has earned the International Railway Industry Standard Group certification ISO/TS 22163, the standard specifying business management system requirements for rail organisations.

Its ECE R100.2 certified INT-39 energy packs are optimised for long-life applications, improved operational efficiencies and lower running costs. Commercial vehicles equipped with Leclanché packs are quiet, odourless and produce zero emissions helping to ease the transition to a reduced carbon-dioxide environment.