4. Electric traction for the future

4.1 New challenges

Electric traction using asynchronous motors has now reached maturity. IGBT voltage inverters cover the whole range of rolling stock, from streetcars and powerful multi-voltage locomotives to metros, railcars and high-speed trains, but the needs of rail operators, driven by public demand, are ever more demanding. The drive to improve the performance of electric traction, which began at the very beginning, is still going strong, albeit with new constraints, or rather demands for excellence that were not previously in use.

The classic areas for improvement are still present, such as :

• increasing installed power to boost speed and load;

• reducing the weight and volume...