The Smart BEST is an experimental Japanese two-car self-charging battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) train developed and manufactured by

Kinki Sharyo is a Japanese manufacturer of railroad vehicles based in Osaka. It is an affiliate company of Kintetsu Corporation. In business since 1920 (as Tanaka Rolling Stock Works) and renamed The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd in 1945. They have produced light ...

in 2012 to demonstrate the feasibility of battery train technology for use on non-electrified rural lines. The name is an acronym for "Battery Engine Synergy Train". The train has been tested on

JR West , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...

and

JR Shikoku The , commonly known as , is the smallest of the seven constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It operates of intercity and local rail services in the four prefectures on the island of Shikoku in Japan. The company has it ...

lines since late 2012.

Overview

The Smart BEST train operates using GS Yuasa LIM30H-8A lithium-ion storage battery modules recharged in operation by a small-capacity "e-Brid Plus" diesel engine. The train normally operates at a maximum speed of , but is capable of over short distances.

Formation

The two-car train is formed as shown below, with one motored (M) car and one non-powered trailer (T) car.

Interior

Seating accommodation is arranged as 2+2 abreast transverse seating with seat backs that flip over to face the direction of travel.

History

The "Smart BEST" train was unveiled to the media in October 2012 at the Kinki Sharyo factory in Osaka, before being moved to

Yonago, Tottori is a city in western Tottori Prefecture, Japan, facing the Sea of Japan and making up part of the boundary of Lake Nakaumi. It is adjacent to Shimane Prefecture and across the lake from its capital of Matsue. It is the prefecture's second larg ...

for test running on the

Sanin Main Line The is a railway line in western Japan, which connects Kyoto and Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It is the major railway line of the San'in region, approximately paralleling the Japan Sea, crossing K ...

, Sakai Line, and Hakubi Line. It was returned to Kinki Sharyo in December 2012. In December 2013, the train was moved to

Takamatsu, Kagawa 270px, Takamatsu City Hall 270px, Aerial view of Takamatsu city center 270px, View from Yashima to Takashima port is a city located in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 414,134 in 190120 households and a popul ...

, and started test running on a number of lines in

Shikoku is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), ...

, including the

Kōtoku Line The is a railway line in northeastern Shikoku, Japan that connects the prefectural capitals Takamatsu ( Kagawa) and Tokushima ( Tokushima). Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) owns and operates the line, whose name comes from the characters ...

, Naruto Line, and Tokushima Line. From September until December 2014, the train was used in revenue service on promotional "

Hello Kitty , also known by her full name , is a fictional character created by Yuko Shimizu, currently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi, and owned by the Japanese company Sanrio. Sanrio depicts Hello Kitty as an anthropomorphized white cat with a red bow and n ...

" services in the Wakayama area.

References

External links