KINKISHARYO Unveils ameriTRAM™, North America's First Low-Floor, Electro-Hybrid Streetcar

WESTWOOD, Mass., Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- KINKISHARYO International, L.L.C., the number one supplier of low-floor, light-rail vehicles in North America, announced the LFX-300—its prototype of the 100 percent low-floor, electro-hybrid streetcar specifically designed for North America—has completed engineering tests and trials and is proven ready for the North American market.  With testing of its prototype now finalized, KINKISHARYO today unveiled the newly-named streetcar—ameriTRAM™—to the public at a special ceremony in Charlotte, NC.

"We thank the City of Charlotte and the Charlotte Area Transit System for allowing us to test our prototype here.  We also very much appreciate the City of Charlotte's courtesy of providing us this outstanding venue for us to introduce ameriTRAM to North America," said Rainer Hombach, vice president and general manager of KINKISHARYO International.

ameriTRAM™ is a 100 percent low-floor streetcar powered by e-Brid™, a propulsion technology that enables operation powered by overhead catenary or on-board lithium-ion batteries.  e-Brid™ charges the batteries while running on catenary power.  In battery mode, e-Brid™ uses electricity stored from regenerative braking.  Depending on conditions, ameriTRAM™ can run on battery power for up to five miles.

"Municipalities across the country have greater expectations of their urban transit solutions providers and the products and services they deliver," Hombach said.  "This new generation of streetcars must reduce capital investment and operational costs, improve environmental performance, offer greater aesthetics, enhance public safety and provide overall greater value," Hombach added.  "We've listened to our customers and that's why we specifically engineered ameriTRAM for North America.  With its 100 percent low-floor and e-Brid propulsion technology, we are confident ameriTRAM's arrival is well timed and will be well received," Hombach noted.

The e-Brid™ propulsion system offers compelling advantages.  Less electrification equipment and maintenance means that e-Brid™ saves municipalities millions of dollars in capital investment and operational costs, including $1 -$2 million for every mile of catenary avoided.  Eliminating overhead catenary wires allows ameriTRAM™ to serve sensitive historic preservation areas, or where installing overhead wires is just not practical, such as under low bridges.  Also, because e-Brid™ enables battery-powered operation for up to five miles, ameriTRAM™ delivers immediate savings through lower power consumption and also eliminates harmful greenhouse gas emissions.  

ameriTRAM™ was specifically engineered for North America and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Buy America, NFPA-130 and ASME RT-1.  What's more, ameriTRAM™ has a modular design and can be expanded to comprise up to seven cars without increasing a municipality's fleet size.

"ameriTRAM is not a foreign or outdated design forced to work in North America," Hombach said.  "Not only did we engineer ameriTRAM to comply with North American regulations and standards, but we also integrated ideas from transportation officials and riders alike.  ameriTRAM's 100 percent low-floor, energy-efficient and cost effective design is uniquely engineered for North America's sustainable cities," Hombach added.

More information is available at: www.ameritram.com.

About KINKISHARYO International, L.L.C.

KINKISHARYO International, L.L.C. is the number one supplier of low-floor light rail vehicles in North America.  It is the North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd., one of the most sophisticated rolling stock manufacturers customizing solutions for urban transit agencies worldwide since 1920.  Kinki Sharyo has supplied over 15,000 electric railcars—from light rail vehicles to high-speed Shinkansen bullet trains—that move hundreds of millions of passengers safely and efficiently.  Headquartered in Westwood, MA, KINKISHARYO International (www.kinkisharyo.com) has been redefining urban light rail transit systems throughout the U.S. for nearly three decades.

SOURCE KINKISHARYO International, L.L.C.