Eco-design of Italo

The Alstom AGV model, technology base of Italo, is the result of a process of eco-design aimed at reducing its impact, in terms of pollution, throughout the operating life of the train, from the initial stage of production to the final stage of recycling. The train is 98% built with recyclable materials, such as aluminium, steel, copper and glass.

Furthermore, the use during every phase of the train’s construction of materials resistant to deterioration gives Italo an operating life 15% longer than other trains, meaning one of more than 30 years.

In line with sustainable development

Thanks to the use of composite materials, the more effective traction systems and the extended architectural configuration, Italo is roughly 70 tons lighter than the trains manufactured by the competition, making for a 15% reduction in energy consumption compared to a traditional train with equal performance levels. As a result, Italo emits extremely low levels of greenhouse gases (CO2), quantified at only 2.2g/km/passenger, a level thirteen times lower than a bus (30g) and seventy times lower than an airplane (153g). This means annual energy savings of approximately 650,000 kWh over an operating distance of 500,000 km.

Italo also produces its own electricity, thanks to a system that combines as rheostat brake with an energy-recovery brake. While the train is slowing down, up to 8 MW of unused electricity is returned to the power-supply network.

Minimal noise pollution

Reduced noise, both inside and outside, is another advantage of the eco-design of Italo.

The positioning of the bogies (located between the bodywork and not under the passenger cars), as well as the aerodynamic design, the addition of air deflectors, the use of aero-acoustic dampers, the insulation materials and the improvement in the wheel/rail contact are some of the innovations in the field of aero-acoustics that will allow NTV’s future trains to travel at increasingly lower levels of noise. To provide a statistical comparison, at a speed of 360 km/h, Italo train provides the levels of external and internal acoustical comfort as the competitors’ trains do at speeds of 300 or 320 km/h.