Daily Management Review

Germany Introduces The First Ever Train To Run On 100% Hydrogen


09/21/2018


The hydrogen powered trains of Germany seem to be greener alternatives to diesel emissions generated from the other trains.



(CC By 1.0); Source: commons.wikimedia.org
(CC By 1.0); Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Germany started this week by rolling out the first ever train in the world which is powered by hydrogen, whereby pioneering the move towards greener future which challenges that pollution generated by the trains running in diesel; although the new alternative may be more costly but in terms of eco-friendly aspect it does score higher.
 
There were two “bright blue Coradia iLint” kick starting the journey of a hundred mile route that stretches through the “towns and cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude in northern Germany”. These were built by Alstom, the “French TGV-maker”. The Chief Executive Officer of Alstom, Henri Poupart-Lafarge, was quoted stating during an “unveiling ceremony”:
“The world's first hydrogen train is entering into commercial service and is ready for serial production”.
 
The said ceremony took place in Bremervoerde which also the place for these trains to refuel themselves. As per Alstom’s plans, there are fourteen more “zero-emissions trains” for “Lower Saxony” which is scheduled to come out by 2021, while other states of Germany too are showing an interest on the same.
 
Fuel cells present in the hydrogen trains are capable of generating electricity by combining oxygen and hydrogen. The said process of generating power only emits “steam and water” as emissions. Moreover, the excess energy thus produced is kept stored in “ion lithium batteries on board the train”.
 
One single hydrogen tank has a range which is similar to diesel train, whereby enabling the Coradia iLint to run for “around 1,000 kilometres”. The technology, bets Alstom, is far “greener” option than “diesel on non-electrified railway lines”. The Project Manager of Alstom, Stefan Schrank said:
“Sure, buying a hydrogen train is somewhat more expensive than a diesel train, but it is cheaper to run”.
 
 
 
References:
ndtv.com