A joint research team of Fukui University and a private-sector enterprise has succeeded in running a railroad car weighing about 30 tons for about 20 km by using a lithium-ion secondary battery...The practical use of such batteries is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions, making the use of pantographs and overhead electric wires unnecessary and thus improve landscapes. The research was adopted in 2005 for the Environment Ministry's project to develop techniques for coping with global warming...more...