Flywheel Energy Storage for Rail Promises Carbon Savings and Rapid Payback

British energy technology firm Levistor  has unveiled a next-generation flywheel storage system designed to cut rail carbon emissions, slash operating costs, and provide a durable alternative to batteries.

They will be pitching at the Sustainable Startup Investment Summit on 1st October.

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The system captures braking energy normally lost as heat and returns it to trains during acceleration. According to independent research by the University of Sheffield, deploying flywheel storage on light rail networks can reduce total system energy consumption by up to 24%. For stations handling more than ten trains per hour, payback could be achieved in under four years, with systems lasting more than two decades.

“Electrification isn’t the end of the journey for decarbonising rail,” said Matthew Journee, CEO of Levistor. “Our flywheel technology offers operators a proven, long-life, and low-maintenance way to cut energy use significantly, with a clear business case and safety designed from day one.”

From motorways to rail

Levistor’s CycloCell technology was initially developed to support ultra-rapid charging for electric vehicles, with backing from National Highways, which plans trials in late 2025. Building on this experience, the company has identified rail as a prime market for its long-life, high-performance storage solution.

While rail operators have already made strides by electrifying fleets, further energy savings have often been limited to marginal steps such as introducing LED lighting. Levistor’s flywheel system addresses this gap by providing a scalable, high-impact decarbonisation tool.

Engineering for endurance

Levistor’s design is distinguished by:

• Vacuum-sealed, magnetic-bearing operation: the flywheel spins at near the speed of sound with ultra-low standby losses.

• Shatter-proof laminated rotor: ensuring inherent safety and reducing installation costs.

• Mass-manufacturing readiness: the first flywheel engineered for large-scale, low-cost production.

  
  

Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which typically degrade after around 3,000 cycles, Levistor’s flywheels can withstand over one million charge/discharge cycles without loss of capacity. 

A Scalable global solution

Levistor positions its technology as an alternative to conventional storage, particularly for urban light rail and metro systems worldwide. By combining long service life with robust safety features, the company argues its flywheel offers both economic and environmental returns unmatched by batteries.

The system is now commercially available for deployment in rail and light rail networks globally.

Levistor has been announced as a pitching company for the Sustainable Startup Investment Summit. Sign up below.

Sustainable Startup Investment Summit

1 October 2025, 18:00–22:00London

Register Now