China's first permanent magnet-driven high-speed trains to enter test run  

中国首辆永磁高铁下线试车 最快3年商业化运营

由中国南车集团株洲所研制的新一代高速列车永磁同步牵引系统，近日已成功通过国家铁道检测试验中心的地面试验考核。《新京报》记者在株洲所最新了解到，首辆装有永磁牵引系统的高铁已经在南车青岛四方整车下线，接下来将进入考核试验阶段，最快3年后实现商业化运营。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) -- China has finished assembling its first high-speed trains driven by permanent magnet synchronous motors, which are ready for testing, Beijing News reported.

Thus, the country has become one of a few in the world to grasp the technology of permanent magnet motor systems applied to high-speed rail.

The trains are expected to be put into commercial operation in three years.

A train installed with a permanent magnet synchronous motor system can reduce power use by 10 percent, compared to asynchronous motors currently in operation, according to Xu Junfeng, a vice director in charge of system development.

Its high power density can reduce the number of motors a train needs, Xu added. "An eight-car train only needs 4 permanent magnet motors rather than 6 normal equivalents, which can help save up to 20 percent in running costs."

Besides, the new permanent magnet motors produce less noise and have a longer life span.

Feng Jianghua, chief system designer, said this technology can make China's high-speed railways more competitive on the overseas market.

Permanent magnet synchronous motor systems have been applied to China's subway trains. Xu noted that Shenyang Subway has achieved 9.61 percent in energy saving capacity to date.