Tempted by savings in fuel, reduction of greenhouse gases and improvements in working conditions, Eurotunnel has converted some of the tunnel's maintenance vehicles to use clean, silent 50 KW electric motors.
Combined with lead batteries, the system also fuels other machinery (elevator platform, hoists, tools). Seven electric wagons will be delivered next week. They are an alternative to the traditional locomotives which pull the wagons to the work zone, as the convoys must be able to move when the TGVs' electric power is switched off for safety reasons.
The company has calculated that it will save 260,000 litres of fuel per year, representing 680 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Eurotunnel says it will cost 425,000 euros more than diesel-powered wagons, the other option that was envisaged. But FEDER is providing a subsidy of 207,825 euros “thanks to an application by the ADEME in Nord-Pas-de-Calais”.
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