Railway Traction Motors Market

Railway Traction Motors Market Outlook (2022-2032)

The global railway traction motors market is valued at US$ 11 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach US$ 17 billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2022 to 2032 (forecast period).

Railway traction motors are electric motors that generate power for a train's rotating wheels. They have a sealed structure that prevents dust penetration and necessitates less upkeep and are better accessory devices, such as cooling fans to reduce noise. Railway traction motors are extremely reliable since the stator is integrated using high-frequency heating. As a result, these motors are widely used in electric, diesel-electric locomotives, and electric multiple units (EMUs) all over the world.

Due to their great weight and lengthy service life, railway coaches need engines that are robust, durable, and capable of sustaining significant mechanical force. Railway traction motors offer the much-needed power required for the proper operation of the railway coach.

Currently, there is an increase in the expansion of the railway network globally, which aids in the transportation of products and commodities across longer distances than roadways. This is one of the primary reasons driving the demand for railway traction motors.

Traction motors have several advantages, including a small design, high power efficiency, and long life. This, combined with various measures taken by governments of various nations to promote the use of electric motors, is encouraging the growth of the railway traction motors market.

Moreover, the electrification of railway networks and the conversion of traditional diesel locomotives to electric locomotives are increasing.

Furthermore, the rising use of high-capacity lithium-ion batteries in rolling stock and traction power is providing lucrative growth prospects for key market participants. These participants are heavily spending on research and development (R&D) initiatives to improve railway systems, allowing them to grow overall sales and profitability.

In addition, increasing investment in electric vehicles and the rising need to cut carbon emissions globally are driving demand for EV traction motors and railway traction motors. Electric vehicles are gaining massive popularity due to growing worries over GHG emissions.

Several governments and authorities throughout the world are encouraging e-mobility to reduce carbon emissions and reliance on internal combustion engines. Electric vehicles not only promote cleaner e-transportation, but they also serve to reduce the need for fossil fuels.

Moreover, emerging nations are showing interest in establishing mass transit transportation systems like metros. The development of metros is projected to fuel demand for railway traction motors.

Key manufacturers of railway traction motors are concentrating on the creation of more effective electric traction motors to maintain market competitiveness.

Report Attributes	Details
Railway Traction Motors Market Size (2022)	US$ 11 Billion
Projected Market Value (2032)	US$ 17 Billion
Global Market Growth Rate (2022-2032)	4.4% CAGR
Asia Pacific Market Share (2021)	48%
Market Share of AC Motors (2021)	45.2%
Key Companies Profiled	Mitsubishi Electric Corporation ABB Ltd ALSTOM Holdings SA Caterpillar Inc. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited Bombardier Inc Saini Group Siemens AG Sulzer Ltd Traktionssysteme Austria GmbH Toshiba International Corporation

Why is Demand for Railway Traction Motors Intensifying?

“Superior Performance of Traction Motors in Railways”

The railway is a favored and more cost-effective option for the mass movement of commodities and products across greater distances. Moreover, technological improvements have enhanced the performance of railway engines and motors in terms of safety and speed.

Traction motors' various advantages, such as power efficiency, compact design, and durability, promote their usage in railways. As a result, traction motors have become an important component in railways.

Traction motors allow for the easy delivery of power to the locomotive wheels, culminating in the railways' initial slow motion. Then, to obtain more speed, more power is used. Consequently, the safety of the cargo and the crew and passengers onboard the locomotive are not endangered, ensuring the safe delivery of the products.

Moreover, the lowered noise, vibration reduction at increased torque, and seamless acceleration and deceleration of the traction motors mitigate damage during the performance. Thus, the superior performance of traction motors in railways is likely to boost the market for railway traction motors.

“Advent of Battery-Electric Locomotives”

The battery-electric locomotive does not require the use of fossil fuels to create power, hence avoiding direct emissions, exhaust gases, fuel storage, and noise. Developments in battery technology have prompted investment in the creation of battery-electric locomotives for practical applications.

Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC), Vivarail, CAF, Bombardier, and Hitachi are the current key developers of battery-electric locomotives.

• The world's first battery-electric freight train, called the FLXdrive battery-electric locomotive, was successfully trialed in California in 2021. The train features 500 lithium-ion battery modules, which are intended to reduce fuel usage by 11%.

Such technological breakthroughs are expected to aid the demand for railway traction motors in the next ten years.

What Difficulties Do Traction Motor Manufacturers Face?

“High Initial Development and Deployment Cost of Traction Motors”

Due to the traction motors' compact design, high durability, and reliability, the procedures involved in creating and manufacturing them necessitate cutting-edge equipment and technology.

Moreover, optimizing and customizing these traction motors to perfectly match the application necessitates exceptional technical skills, raising the cost of traction motor production even further.

As a result, the heavy investment costs related to the creation and installation of traction motors pose significant difficulties for manufacturers.

Country-wise Insights

What Makes Japan and South Korea Major Markets for Railway Traction Motors in Asia Pacific?

Asia Pacific captured 48% of the global market in 2021. The demand for railway traction motors in Asia Pacific is significantly high due to the expansion of transportation infrastructures, such as railway connections, metro rail systems, and high-speed bullet trains.

Moreover, Japan and South Korea are major markets in Asia Pacific due to the increased investment in railway projects, particularly high-speed rail and metro trains.

Which European Country's Market is Expanding Rapidly?

Europe is expected to hold a significant market share as the region makes substantial investments in developing railway technology. The market for railway traction motors in Germany is predicted to expand rapidly during the projection period. Germany is taking steps to increase the number of rail passengers and move more freight to railways by 2030.

What is the Growth Outlook for Railway Traction Motors in the United States and Canada?

The United States is expected to remain a leader in North America during the forecast period. The existence of a large number of manufacturers in the country, as well as their ongoing efforts in producing superior traction motors, has helped the market tremendously. Moreover, large-scale urbanization and growing efforts to electrify passenger railways have also offered major momentum to the adoption of railway traction motors in the United States.

Canada is projected to follow the United States in terms of growth. Canada is also a key market for railway traction motors, but it is currently increasing at a slower rate than the United States. This is due to the country's inadequate electrification of rail networks.

Nevertheless, increased passenger traffic on Canadian rail services has compelled railroad firms to invest in new railway equipment, such as railway traction motors. This is expected to help the Canadian market maintain a stable pace over the decade.

Category-wise Insights

Why are AC Motors Most Widely Deployed?

Railway traction motors are classified into three types: DC motors, AC motors, and synchronous AC motors. In 2021, AC motors accounted for 45.2% of the worldwide market.

AC motors are the most popular type. AC motors have several advantages, including the fact that they are simple to manufacture and are lighter when compared to DC motors for an equivalent amount of power. Moreover, AC motors are more durable and easier to maintain than DC motors.

AC motors can be created and built for application-specific machinery and automotive based on the motors utilized for traction, such as induction or asynchronous. In the current scenario, AC motors are most extensively employed in applications such as railways, electric vehicles, industrial machines, and conveyors.

Competitive Landscape

In recent years, the global railway traction motors market has witnessed numerous notable developments. Furthermore, key market players are expanding their market presence through a variety of growth methods such as strategic investments, new product launches, mergers and acquisitions, and alliances.

• Mahle released a new electric traction motor in July 2022 that can be utilized in the railway sector.
• ABB stated in April 2022 that they are building a traction motor manufacturing unit for rail and metro in India. The unit will be able to generate 1,500 traction motors per year.
• Parker-Hannifin released a new high-power, GVM310 permanent magnet AC motor with a 310 mm frame in December 2021.
• Mercedes-Benz acquired YASA Motors Ltd., a forerunner in next-generation electric powertrain technologies, in July 2021. According to the terms of the acquisition, YASA will operate its own Mercedes-Benz subsidiary, which will produce high-performance electric motors.

Key Segments of Railway Traction Motors Industry Research

• By Type:

  • DC Motors
  • AC Motors
  • Synchronous AC Motors

• By Application:

  • Diesel Locomotives
  • Diesel-Electric Locomotives
  • Electric Locomotives
  • Electric Multiple Units (EMUs)

• By Region:

  • North America
  • Latin America
  • Europe
  • APAC
  • MEA