Concord Control Systems Limited (CCSL) has developed India’s first fully indigenous zero-emission propulsion system for converting existing diesel-powered locomotives into sustainable platforms. The system is powered by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and features a direct current (DC) chopper-based drive.
It delivers 800 ampere (A) of peak current to traction motors when retrofitted on a 700-horsepower (HP) diesel-electric platform. Unlike conventional diesel engines, it operates only when required, resulting in significant fuel savings and zero emissions. All major components such as the chopper, vehicle control unit (VCU), driver display, sensors, and controllers, have been indigenously manufactured by CCSL, with the exception of a few semiconductor devices.
Additionally, the system also introduces several technological firsts, such as high-voltage battery integration with choppers, controller area network (CAN) based VCUs, and fibre-optic electromagnetic interference (EMI)-immune signal transmission. A few other advanced features include digital displays, closed-circuit television (CCTV) monitoring, and a remote monitoring system (RMS) for predictive maintenance and real-time diagnostics.