Alstom SA

10/05/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/05/2021 10:04

Alstom launches an innovation hub for mobility in Västerås, Sweden

Industry cross-fertilization to accelerate the green transition

The core of the new centre's operations will be the opening of Alstom's lab in Västerås to external parties interested in testing and developing electrical drive systems. Doing so, Alstom will help to accelerate the transition to an emission-free future through cross-industry collaboration. The climate-smart mobility innovations of the future will result from cross-fertilizations between industry, universities, and start-ups.

"Sweden is in the middle of a green transition. But the electrification of road and construction vehicles requires competence that is relatively limited in Sweden. Cross-fertilization between industries is therefore necessary to accelerate the process," Rob Whyte explains.

The centre has already begun operations quietly prior to the official ground-breaking ceremony. Alstom has invited external users into the testing lab and started collaborating with e-mobility start-ups. Today's ground-breaking on the new annex marks another important milestone, with the centre expected to be completed by 2023.

Alstom is a sustainable mobility pioneer

Alstom has pioneered several sustainable mobility solutions in line with the ambition to facilitate the global transition to low climate footprint transportation systems. In Sweden, the company has global development centres for drive, control, and signalling systems in Västerås and Stockholm. Among other innovations, the new energy-efficient silicon carbide-based drive system technology demonstrated in the Stockholm subway in 2018 has its origin in Västerås.

Last August, Alstom's Coradia iLint passenger train, the first in the world to be powered by hydrogen, makes its Swedish debut in Östersund for 2 days. This demonstration was an innovative answer to sustainable mobility without compromise.

Alstom is the largest player on the Swedish railway market, with over 1000 trains delivered. Alstom is holding several large maintenance contracts and is offering maintenance in 18 local depots.

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