"Changhe," the mobile manned orbital battery-powered vehicle

Today morning, at the Rail Transit Shared Training Base of Hunan Railway Science and Technology Vocational College, a striking purple-and-white all-electric vehicle slowly rolled onto the track. Developed jointly by the college and ZHUZHOU CHANGHE ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., the innovative new manned tram named "Changhe" has successfully rolled off the production line.

Notably, while conventional passenger locomotives require a minimum turning radius of 100 meters, the "Changhe" only needs 28 meters. Additionally, it boasts a lightweight design and rapid acceleration. The entire train features 168 seats, can travel up to 150 kilometers on a single 4-hour charge, and reaches a top speed of 60 km/h. Building upon standard railway vehicle design criteria, the "Changhe" incorporates innovative optimizations in its vehicle control system, bogies, car body, and onboard network—enhancing its resistance to corrosion and interference. This allows the train to operate reliably even in challenging environments such as plateaus or extreme cold regions. As a result, it will be widely deployed for emergency rescue operations and corporate commuter services. Moreover, the tram is equipped with a vehicle control system jointly developed by the university and industry partners, ensuring exceptional stability and compatibility.

Liu Jianfei, Party Secretary of Hunan Railway Science and Technology Vocational College, and Dai Lianhua, President of the college, officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the acceptance and delivery of the "Changhe" specialized manned tramcar for operational use.

"After establishing provincial-level engineering technology research centers and academician workstations—among other innovative service platforms—the college has expanded the scope of industry-university collaboration, heightened faculty members' awareness of research and technological innovation, and strengthened vocational colleges' ability to contribute to local economic development," said Yu Xunquan, Dean of the School of Railway Engineering and Information at Hunan Railway Science and Technology Vocational College.

Wu Shuangqing, General Manager of ZHUZHOU CHANGHE ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., operates the electric locomotive.

Wu Shuangqing, General Manager of ZHUZHOU CHANGHE ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., served as the primary leader of this project. He stated that the deep collaboration between the university and the company—from R&D design to vehicle testing—has successfully facilitated the rapid commercialization of technological advancements, resulting in a win-win partnership. "By leveraging the institute's high-quality technical support and its advanced R&D testing facilities, the company has not only reduced research costs and shortened the development timeline but also significantly improved the quality of our product innovations."

The hospital's top official stated that the "Changhe" specialized manned tram is a significant achievement resulting from the institute's efforts to deepen industry-education integration and strengthen collaboration between the university and enterprises. Moving forward, the institute will further intensify its partnerships with industry players and businesses, accelerating the practical application and commercialization of both teaching outcomes and cutting-edge research and technological advancements.

[Editor: Ye Zhu]

[Source: Sanxiang Metropolis Daily]