The technology is similar to hybrid or electric vehicle braking systems, which convert a vehicle’s kinetic energy from deceleration into electricity to power the car’s electrical equipment. London’s upgraded transportation system collects energy from the train’s brakes and feeds it back into the power mains to supply electricity for train stations.
During the trial, TfL found they could capture 1MWh per day, which is enough to power 104 homes per year. An additional indirect benefit is that the new braking system uses less heat, and therefore less energy will be wasted on cooling.
This state-of-the-art regenerative braking system has the potential to transform how we power stations across the TfL network, unlocking massive power savings and significantly reducing our energy bills. We are committed to doing more to reduce our energy use, and this technology – a world first for metro railways – is one of a number of innovations we’re embracing to lower our environmental impact.
Source: TfL | Gizmag | Photo by drivethrucafe 
