Germany has launched the world’s first fleet of hydrogen-powered passenger trains on August August 24, replacing 15 diesel trains that previously operated on nonelectrified tracks in the state of Lower Saxony.
Key highlights
- The 14 trains use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity that powers the engines.
- The trains manufactured by French company Alstom are operated by regional rail company LNVG on routes between the northern towns of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude.
- As per Alstom, the Coradia iLint trains have a range of up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and a maximum speed of 140 kph (87 mph).
- By using hydrogen produced with renewable energy the trains will save 1.6 million liters (more than 422,000 gallons) of diesel fuel a year.
- The hydrogen is currently produced as a byproduct in chemical processes, but German specialty gas company Linde plans to manufacture it locally using only renewable energy within three years.
