Germany rolls out world’s first hydrogen train

Germany on Monday rolled out the world ’ s first hydrogen – powered train , signalling the start of a push to challenge the might of polluting diesel trains with costlier but more eco – friendly technology .
Two bright blue Coradia iLint trains , built by French TGV- maker Alstom , began running a 100 -kilometre ( 62 -mile ) route between the towns and cities of Cuxhaven , Bremerhaven , Bremervoerde and Buxtehude in northern Germany — a stretch normally plied by diesel trains .

“ The world ’ s first hydrogen train is entering into commercial service and is ready for serial production , ” Alstom CEO Henri Poupart – Lafarge said at an unveiling ceremony in Bremervoerde , the station where the trains will be refuelled with hydrogen .

Alstom has said it plans to deliver another 14 of the zero – emissions trains to Lower Saxony state by 2021 , with other German states also expressing an interest.

Hydrogen trains are equipped with fuel cells that produce electricity through a combination of hydrogen and oxygen , a process that leaves steam and water as the only emissions.

Excess energy is stored in ion – lithium batteries on board the train .

The Coradia iLint trains can run for around 1 , 000 kilometres on a single tank of hydrogen , similar to the range of diesel trains .

Alstom is betting on the technology as a greener , quieter alternative to diesel on non – electrified railway lines — an attractive prospect to many German cities scrambling to combat air pollution .

“ Sure , buying a hydrogen train is somewhat more expensive than a diesel train , but it is cheaper to run , ” Stefan Schrank, the project ’ s manager at Alstom , told AFP .

Other countries are also looking into hydrogen trains , Alstom said , including Britain , the Netherlands , Denmark , Norway , Italy and Canada .

In France , the government has already said it wants the first hydrogen train to be on the rails by 2022 .

AFP

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