Tesla starts running electric ‘Hypertrain’ at German factory

Tesla has begun operating a train in Germany, aptly called the “Giga Train.” However, all is not as it seems, as this is not a train designed, developed or built by the electric car maker. It doesn’t even own it.

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The train made its debut in early August and is designed specifically to transport employees at the Tesla Gigafactory in Berlin. It runs from the existing Elkner station and stops at the factory’s new station, Tesla South Station. It is expected to eventually transport 4,500 employees to the site each day and will help reduce the need for parking spaces at the factory, also removing some cars from local roads.

Read: Tesla to launch 6-seat Model Y in China next year, according to reports

Like Tesla’s cars, the train is battery-powered and can be charged on electrified tracks or run on battery power alone when running on standard tracks. It has 120 seats and can transport up to 500 people at a time. However, despite the name that might make you think of Tesla, Tesla is not actually involved in the field of train manufacturing.

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You see, this is actually a Siemens Mireo Plus B train. These trains have been around for a few years and are running on several other tracks in Germany. It uses lithium-titanium oxide batteries from Japanese manufacturer Toshiba and can travel 120 kilometers (74 miles) on battery power alone. The train is operated by the private regional railway company Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB) in Berlin and Brandenburg and is painted in a similar white, yellow and black livery to the other trains. The main feature of this Tesla train is the Giga Train text printed on the side.

Tesla does not own the train, according to German publication SWR. Instead, it is owned by the German state of Baden-Württemberg and leased to the automaker.

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