Levistor, a UK-based energy technology company, has unveiled a new generation of flywheel energy storage technology designed to help rail operators achieve deep carbon reductions and long-term energy savings. The system, which captures and reuses braking energy, promises rapid payback periods, extended lifespan and enhanced performance compared with conventional battery solutions.
The flywheel captures energy normally lost as heat when trains brake, storing it as kinetic energy. When trains depart stations, the system converts that stored energy back into electricity to assist acceleration.
Independent research by the University of Sheffield shows that integrating energy storage into light rail networks can reduce total system energy use by up to 24%. For stations handling more than ten trains per hour, Levistor estimates the technology could achieve payback in under four years, with a system life exceeding 20 years.
Building on EV charging technology
The new solution adapts Levistor’s CycloCell technology, originally developed to support ultra-rapid EV charging. Backed by National Highways in the UK, the technology will undergo trials in late 2025 at Moreton-in-Marsh.
By transferring this expertise to the rail sector, Levistor sees significant opportunities to deliver the same high-performance, long-life storage benefits to stations and light rail networks worldwide.
Key features of Levistor’s flywheel
Levistor’s design combines several innovations to maximise performance and safety:
- High-speed operation: the flywheel spins at the speed of sound in a vacuum using magnetic bearings, ensuring ultra-low standby losses and maximum efficiency.
- Safety by design: a laminated rotor construction provides shatter-proof protection and reduces installation costs.
- Mass-production readiness: the first flywheel engineered for large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which typically degrade after around 3,000 cycles, Levistor’s flywheels can withstand over one million cycles without capacity loss. At a station serving ten trains per hour — around 200 cycles daily — this durability enables consistent energy recovery for decades.
A step beyond electrification
Levistor highlights that while electrification is central to rail decarbonisation, further gains are often limited once electric fleets are introduced.
Matthew Journee, CEO of Levistor, said:
Electrification isn’t the end of the journey for decarbonising rail. Our flywheel technology offers operators a proven, long-life, and low-maintenance way to reduce energy consumption significantly, with a clear economic case and safety designed in from day one.
With the technology now available for use in both rail and light rail networks, Levistor is positioning its flywheels as a cost-effective and sustainable energy solution for operators worldwide.
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