Kawasaki Delivers World's First Rolling Stock Bogie with CFRP Suspension

Tokyo, March 14, 2014 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it has delivered two units of the efWING®^*1, the world's first rolling stock bogie using CFRP suspension, to Kumamotodentetsu Co., Ltd.

The cars fitted with the efWING bogies will start revenue service today for the route between Fujisakigu-mae Station and Miyoshi Station.

The new efWING bogie developed by Kawasaki uses CFRP^*2, a material that delivers superior strength and lightness, for part of its frame, which used to be made of steel in conventional bogies. Instead of using the usual coil springs, the new bogie adopts an arch-shaped CFRP frame structure that integrates the suspension function. This highly efficient dual-function frame significantly reduces the overall weight of the bogie, which helps curb energy costs as well as minimize environmental footprint.

The superior suspension functionality of the bogie stabilizes the force transferred by each wheel onto the rail. This results in improved passenger comfort as well as greater protection against derailment, with the rate of wheel load reduction^*3 cut by half.

In designing the efWING, Kawasaki adopted a holistic approach based on the principles of Kansei Engineering, in order to create a bogie that is pleasing to look at as well as to ride. As a result, the efWING has won the 2013 Good Design Gold Award from the Japan Institute of Design Promotion.

Through these benefits offered by the efWING, Kawasaki will provide new value to Kumamotodentetsu, which operates under the corporate motto of "serving the community, as a member of the community," and to the customers it serves.

Kawasaki will continue to work to bring the efWING to a greater number of communities, as well as to create more products that help protect the environment.

*1

efWING is Kawasaki's registered trademark.

*2

CFRP stands for carbon fiber reinforced plastic.

*3

Wheel load reduction refers to a reduction in vertical load transferred from the wheels onto the rails while passing through a curved section or running over irregular rails, and could cause the train to go off the track.