Skip to main content

Germany comes clean with zero-emission passenger train service

alstom hydrogen powered zero emission train
Alstom
Alstom is ready to break new ground with its newly introduced Coradia iLint passenger train, reports the Independent. Unveiled during August’s Berlin InnoTrans trade show, the iLint is the world’s first zero-emission train that is powered by hydrogen. If the last round of testing goes as planned, the “hydrail” train will go into operation as soon as next year.

What sets the Coradia iLint apart is its unique method of power generation. Instead of relying on fossil fuels like diesel, the iLint is powered by lithium ion batteries that are supplied a charge by an onboard hydrogen fuel cell. When compared to diesel engines, the hydrogen engine of the iLint is environmentally friendly, producing only steam and condensed water as byproducts. And if that doesn’t make it the greenest train on the planet, this other advantage will.

Related Videos

According to Die Welt, Alstom also is in the business of recycling waste hydrogen in its fuel cells. The hydrogen is supplied by chemical companies that typically would burn the hydrogen instead of putting it to good use as a fuel source. “Alstom is proud to launch a breakthrough innovation in the field of clean transportation,” said Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge when the train was first unveiled.

In a country where more than 4,000 diesel trains are in operation, the hydrogen engine is an operator’s dream. The hydrail can travel at speeds up to 87 mph and can cover almost 500 miles a day. It also is incredibly quiet, with the only noise coming from the wheels on the rails, and air resistance as the train rushes down the track.

Alstrom may be the first firm to use hydrogen fuel in a train, but it is not the first company to take advantage of this clean power source. NASA has been using hydrogen in rocket boosters since the 1970s, sending its rockets skyward with a burst of steam. Car manufacturers also have dabbled with hydrogen, but have not yet released a high-volume hydrogen-powered production model to the public.

Alstom is in the final stages of preparing its hydrail for public release. The trains are undergoing the last stages of testing and regulatory approval process this fall. If this process is a success, Alstom is expected to offer public hydrail service by December 2017. Interest in the hydrogen-powered train is mounting, with northern Germany’s Lower Saxony placing an order for 14 of the trains when they become available next year.

Editors' Recommendations

Garmin services slowly coming back to life after reported ransomware attack
garmin forerunner 935 smartwatch amazon deal

Update: In a Monday afternoon statement, the company confirmed that a cyberattack had impacted Garmin's services, leading to an outage that impacted fitness devices, GPS gadgets, pilots, and the myriad other services the tech brand has touched in its long history. 

This time it's the IT department that's getting the workout.

Read more
Kingdom Hearts 3, Yakuza Zero coming to Xbox Game Pass
Kingdom Hearts 3

It seems the draw of Xbox Game Pass becomes more irresistible each month as the subscription service continues adding gaming heavyweights. It looks like that trend will continue as Microsoft revealed the latest crop of additions, which includes Kingdom Hearts 3.

The popular action RPG launched last year, bringing the series to Xbox for the first time alongside its PS4 release. The mainline Kingdom Hearts games were synonymous with 2000s-era Sony, making the cross-platform launch a significant win for Microsoft.

Read more
Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel cell truck makes hauling freight green and glamorous
hyundai hdc 6 neptune concept hydrogen fuel cell truck

Previous

Next

Read more