Kinkisharyo hails
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefCharlotte, N.C., home to LYNX light rail, played host Thursday to Kinkisharyo International’s official unveiling of its LFX-300 low-floor hybrid streetcar, now dubbed “ameriTRAM”™ by the company.
Kinkisharyo says it “has completed engineering tests and trials” and the hybrid streetcar “is proven ready for the North American market.”
“We thank the City of Charlotte and the Charlotte Area Transit System for allowing us to test our prototype here. We also very much appreciate the City of Charlotte’s courtesy of providing us this outstanding venue for us to introduce ameriTRAM to North America,” said Rainer Hombach, Kinkisharyo International’s vice president and general manager.
The company says ameriTRAM™ (pictured at left) is a 100% low-floor streetcar powered by e-Brid™, a propulsion technology that enables operation powered by overhead catenary or on-board lithium-ion batteries. The e-Brid™ technology charges the batteries while running on catenary power. In battery mode, e-Brid™ uses electricity stored from regenerative braking. Depending on conditions, ameriTRAM™ can run on battery power for up to five miles, seemingly addressing concerns of range limitations expressed by some skeptical rail advocates.
“Municipalities across the country have greater expectations of their urban transit solutions providers and the products and services they deliver,” Hombach said.
“This new generation of streetcars must reduce capital investment and operational costs, improve environmental performance, offer greater aesthetics, enhance public safety and provide overall greater value,” Hombach added. “We’ve listened to our customers and that’s why we specifically engineered ameriTRAM for North America. With its 100% low-floor and e-Brid propulsion technology, we are confident ameriTRAM’s arrival is well timed and will be well received,” Hombach said.
Kinkisharyo says ameriTRAM™ was specifically engineered for North America and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Buy America, NFPA-130, and ASME RT-1.
“AmeriTRAM is not a foreign or outdated design forced to work in North America,” Hombach said. “Not only did we engineer ameriTRAM to comply with North American regulations and standards, but we also integrated ideas from transportation officials and riders alike. AmeriTRAM’s 100% low-floor, energy-efficient, and cost effective design is uniquely engineered for North America’s sustainable cities.”
