Integrated Traction and Battery Thermal Management Modeling of a Battery-Electric Regional Train for Non-Electrified Railway Lines

The electrification of regional railway lines using battery electric trains requires accurate simulation tools to support energy management and thermal control design. This paper presents an integrated dynamic simulation model of the traction system of a Hitachi Caravaggio ETR 521 regional train operating in battery electric mode, developed in MATLAB/Simulink. The model incorporates all key drivetrain components, including a train reference generator, speed controller, motor controller, three phase inverter, induction motor, a Kokam lithium ion battery pack, and a detailed battery thermal management system.The proposed framework enables simultaneous evaluation of traction performance, battery state of charge evolution, and thermal behavior under realistic conditions. To validate the model, simulations of the Treviso–Vicenza route were conducted under two scenarios: traction only operation and operation with a 29.5 kW auxiliary load. Simulation results demonstrate that auxiliary loads significantly affect energy consumption and battery thermal behavior, with energy consumption increased by 21.92 % and battery temperature rising by 3–4 °C compared to traction only operation.The results highlight the importance of integrating thermal effects into energy management and sizing decisions for battery electric regional trains. The developed model provides a practical tool for optimizing battery sizing, thermal management strategies, and overall energy performance, supporting the planning and design of sustainable electric railway solutions.