Attendees included representatives from Zagreb Electric Tram, the Public Transport Company of Osijek, and colleagues from other KONČAR companies. 

The project, which commenced on November 2, 2018, in collaboration with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb, represents an investment of 16.7 million HRK. Its primary objective was to enhance energy efficiency in transport systems. 

As electric rail vehicles play an ever-growing role in urban sustainability, their capacity to efficiently transport passengers and freight, alongside their energy efficiency and environmental benefits, positions them as a key element in the future of urban mobility. To retain these advantages, ongoing innovation and improvement of vehicle technologies through investment in advanced solutions are essential. A key focus of the research was further boosting energy efficiency by capturing and storing the braking energy of rail vehicles. This energy can later be used to drive the vehicle and facilitate partial autonomous operation without overhead lines.

The project’s results have led to the successful commercial deployment of the newly developed main drive converter for rail vehicles with energy storage, marking a critical step toward a more energy-efficient future for urban transportation systems.