Barcelona Metro Uses Regenerative Braking to Power Stations, Charge EVs

Energy created when trains brake is harnessed to power the trains themselves, station infrastructure, and street-level electric car chargers.

1 minute read

December 19, 2024, 8:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Red and white Barcelona Metro train passing through station.

Jaume / Adobe Stock

The Barcelona subway is using power harnessed from braking train cars to power its stations, trains, and even other electric vehicles.

As Joseph Wilson explains in an Associated Press article, the MetroCharge regenerative braking project is in place at 16 stations. An electric motor captures energy that would otherwise be released as heat.

One innovation of the Barcelona system is its use of generated power locally, making it more efficient. The system estimates it will recover the 7.3 million Euros spent on the system in four years as it saves on energy costs. The regenerative system creates enough energy to fully power 28 of the 163 Barcelona metro stations.

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 in Associated Press

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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