The French transport company Alstom unveiled the world's first hydrogen train last Tuesday in Berlin, Germany. The 'Coradia iLint' will hit the rails in the northern part of Germany on the Buxtehude-Bremervörde-Bremerhaven-Cuxhaven route in December next year.
The CO2-free train offers an alternative to diesel-based trains on electrified lines. This is powered by a hydrogen fuel power cell with the only emissions emitted from condensed water and smoke. With a full tank, the Coradia iLint will be able to travel between 600 and 800 kilometers at a speed of 140 km / h with a capacity of 300 passengers, including 150 seated.
Henri Popuart-Lafarge, CEO of Innotrans stated:
Alstom is proud to launch an incredible innovation in the field of transportation free of CO2 emissions that will complete your range of Coradia regional trains. It shows our ability to work closely with our customers and develop a train in just two years.
Electricity for traction and equipment on board is generated by the fuel cell of hydrogen, stored in a lithium-ion battery and recovered when braked. Hydrogen is stored as a gas in tanks at the top of the train and energy is formed by a chemical reaction when hydrogen mixes with oxygen in the air. Apart from zero emissions, the train also offers a much quieter presence on the rails.
During acceleration, energy from the fuel cell is the main power supply. During smooth acceleration phases, the battery will be partially recharged through an on-board auxiliary converter. During braking, the fuel cells are deactivated completely and the energy is generated from the kinetic energy of the vehicle.
This train will be manufactured at Alstom's largest plant in Salzgitter, Germany. To facilitate the use of this type of hydrogen trains, Alstom will supply not only the trains, but also infrastructure and maintenance of the vehicles.