Germany is testing the world’s first passenger train that produces zero carbon dioxide emissions, powered by hydrogen. Revealed last month at the Berlin InnoTrans trade show, these trains emit only steam and condensed water.
Named the Coradia iLint and built by French manufacturer Alstom, the train generates electricity using hydrogen stored in onboard tanks, which reacts with oxygen from the air in fuel cells. Surplus energy is stored in lithium-ion batteries fitted on the train.
Alongside its emissions benefits, the hydrogen-powered train operates much more quietly than diesel alternatives; the dominant noises are wheel-on-rail contact and air resistance as it travels at speeds up to 140 kilometers per hour.
With a single hydrogen fill-up the Coradia iLint can cover distances up to 700 kilometers and carry as many as 300 passengers, making it the first hydrogen fuel cell train designed for regular long-distance service.
Alstom plans to run extensive testing throughout the year and aims to begin passenger service in Germany in late 2017 or early 2018. The company also reports that the purchase cost of these hydrogen trains will be comparable to existing diesel units, which could make them an economically viable option for operators seeking to reduce emissions without significantly higher capital expenditures.
The combination of zero tailpipe CO2 emissions, reduced noise levels, and operational range positions hydrogen fuel cell trains like the Coradia iLint as a practical low-emission alternative for non-electrified regional rail lines.