China Builds High Efficiency Linear Motor Propulsion

As everybody is encouraged to drive less and use public transportation more, breakthroughs in this department can only make our lives easier. One of the most important achievement of recent times is the high efficiency linear electric motors used to power trains. Harbin Electric, a developer and manufacturer of electric motors from China just announced its self-developed linear motor propulsion system powering China’s first LM driving metro train.

Though it might not sound like a big deal, "the successful development of this LM driving metro train ranks China as the third country in the world after Canada and Japan to master the LM technology for a scaled production of LM driving transit system. Harbin Electric - working jointly with IEECAS and CRC - took only two years to successfully master the new technology," said China Central Television.

Throughout the world, a rotary motor propelled metro transit is in use. The LM offers a lot of advantages like higher performance efficiency with lower energy consumption, a safer ride under severe whether conditions such as rain and snow, and is quieter and more comfortable.

The simplicity of the LM system also makes the body of the train more compact, which will help reduce the cross section of the tunnels by 40 percent.

"We are extremely proud of our successful participation in China's development of a technologically advanced urban metro transit industry. The first 'made-in-China" LM metro train relies on our proprietary technology and has met international standards, with significant lower production costs than similar foreign products.

With the success of this trial production, I believe that Chinese enterprises have entered into the high-end LM driving metro transit market and possess the skills and strength necessary to compete with world-class metro rail car manufacturers," said Mr. Tianfu Yang, Chairman and CEO of Harbin Electric.