Mitsubishi Heavy Industries unveiled the Prismo, a next-generation transportation system

Taro Tashiro (Chief Project Manager, Mobility Technology Division), who was in charge of the development of "Prismo", was enthusiastic about the project, saying, "As a system that introduces public transportation, we wanted to create a product that would serve everyone for a long time, and public transportation was the most difficult part of this business. ”

Automated Guideway Trains (AGT) are a type of railway system known for using a system called AGT (Automated Guideway Train System) that uses rubber tires to travel automatically along "guideways" on dedicated tracks, such as the "Yurikamome" and "Nippori-Toneri Line" in Tokyo. These trains typically use power rails and side guide systems, with the vehicles traveling along the rails on the left and right sides of the track.

In contrast, the most distinctive feature of the new Prismo is the central guidance system, which means that it runs along a single rail located directly below the vehicle.

The car can reach a top speed of 80 km/h, with a minimum curve radius of 22 meters, and has strong climbing ability, which can cope with slopes of up to 10%. Combined with the characteristics of low vibration and low noise of rubber tire vehicles, the vehicle is expected to be popularized in densely populated residential areas.

In addition, Director Kenji Fujioka, Deputy General Manager of the GX Division, introduced another major feature of "Prismo": "Previously, there were power supply tracks between stations, but by charging vehicles at stations, we have been able to eliminate power supply tracks on tracks between stations. ”

The key to this is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' newly developed energy management system, which was adopted for the first time. The system combines fast charging at each station with regenerative charging on the road to improve energy efficiency. The charging time per station is only 30 seconds. The maximum driving range when fully charged is 2 km. Even if there is a power outage on the ground, the train can travel to the next station on battery power only.

The energy storage module installed on the vehicle's energy management system platform is a next-generation energy storage module "MHPB (Mitsubishi High Power Battery)" jointly developed by Mitsubishi Electric and Musashi Energy Solutions Co., Ltd. and customized for the GT.

Tashiro said, "The reason why we were able to release Prismo this time is because by installing this energy storage device on the vehicle, we are now able to propose an equalization system that can be used in public transportation. ”

Instead of using large, heavy-duty, high-capacity batteries, the "Prismo" stores and utilizes the regenerative electricity generated when the vehicle decelerates, achieving a 10% energy saving effect compared to conventional AGTs. The development cycle is four years, and consultations have been received, with commercial vehicles expected to be delivered in a few years.

Director Fujioka said, "The goal of 'catenary-free' and capacitor-free operation is of course to meet the growing environmental needs of our customers. The central guidance system also significantly reduces the number of track structures, which is of great significance for civil engineering. It is cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing than traditional systems, and reduces construction and maintenance costs by eliminating the need for equipment such as power rails and rails. ”

All electricity at the Mihara plant is provided by an on-site solar power plant, which has achieved an extremely high CO2 reduction of 97.5%. Prismo expects to reduce emissions by 40% during vehicle manufacturing and streamlined track construction at the plant, 10% during operations, and aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 12% over the entire life cycle (30 years), including disposal.

So, where can Prismo be used?

It is expected that this kind of overhead line AGT will be applied to emerging countries with poor electrification and insufficient power supply, as well as tourist destinations. General Manager Tashiro said, "We have received feedback from some customers who pay attention to the landscape of tourist resorts, and they say that the side rails are not aesthetically pleasing, and the power supply rails are not aesthetically pleasing. He added, "We developed 'Prismo' to make our products more accessible to more users. ”

However, since this is a new system with tracks, the market will be primarily oriented overseas rather than domestically. Among them, the demand is expected to be concentrated in the new transportation system between airport terminals and other buildings.

"The car can hold about 100 people, but it can be combined with three or four cars. It is especially effective at airports where large passenger aircraft take off or land. I think the advantage of it is being able to send all passengers to the terminal at once. In addition, it can be used not only to carry passengers, but also to transport luggage at the airport. ”

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