Power type Diesel hybrid Operators SNCF | AAR wheel arr. B-B Retired 2011 | |
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Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ⁄2 in) Disposition preserved at Cité du Train | ||
BB 63413 PLATHEE (or Plathée in French) is a hybrid locomotive that was used for testing on the French rail operator SNCF. PLATHEE is an acronym for "Platform for Energy- Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Hybrid Trains".
BB 63413 is a demonstration platform built from a BB 63000 shunting locomotive. The 63413 is designed to perform two functions common to the 63000 platform: switching (hump yard) service and urban service (operation within 20–40 km of a freight station). The locomotive uses a downsized diesel engine and a 50 kW HELION fuel cell to provide power. The project was financed by the French Government through the Environment and Energy Management Agency and several industrial partners.
From the base BB63413 locomotive, only the frame, the bogies and the 4 DC electric motors were retained for the demonstrator model. The maximum speed attained during testing was 79.6 km/h.
The program was to use the Nickel Zinc technology, but due to difficulty in obtaining the necessary batteries, Nickel Cadmium batteries were used instead. The locomotive is designed to operate at various operating speeds and can also use biodiesel as a fuel.
The Plathee was retired in 2011 at the end of the trials and is now on display at the Cité du Train.