Next generation type tramway "SWIMO" that can run without overhead lines

Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesAlthough it is a company dealing with a wide range of transportation equipment and machinery equipment such as aircraft, construction machinery, industrial robot, two-wheeled vehicle, there are railroad vehicles among the items handled. For example, the Shinkansen is manufacturing all models except 800 series vehicles operated in JR Kyushu's "Tsubame" are manufactured only for trucks (in addition to KawasakiHitachi, Ltd.,Nippon Car Mfg. Co.,Kinki carWe are also manufacturing etc).

Kawasaki Heavy Industries said "Railway Technology Exhibition 2010But even though we developed a big booth and exhibited various products of our own, it was this next generation tramway "SWIMO" that got the eye out.

Details are as below.
This is the Kawasaki Heavy Industries booth.


SWIMO is a next generation tram that can run without overhead lines.


A car with a round feeling.





The roof of the vehicle is smooth and smooth. It should be necessary to gather electricitypantographthere is not.


Looking at it from the other side, I can understand its colorfulness.


The box with green logo Kawasaki logo visible under the seat, secret is secret.


This is a nickel metal hydride battery "Gigacell".




Giga-cell is a compact and high-capacity battery developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries on its own, and by doing this it is realizing driving without overhead wire.


The inside of the car seems to be like this.




Trams faded considerably with motorization, all Kyoto and Osaka trams were abolished, Tokyo Metropolitan was left abandoned leaving the Arakawa line. However, in Europe and the United States where excessive car socialization advancedLRTHas attracted attention, in Japan in Toyama JR Toyama Port lineToyama Light RailWe are leaving again as we are doing. With this SWIMO that does not require a catenary wire, it is not necessary to set up a new overhead pole post, and it may be relatively easy to introduce.