French rail-equipment manufacturer Alstom is proposing an alternative zero-emission technology for electric trains that use overhead wires or an electrified third rail for power: hydrogen fuel cells.
Alstom unveiled its first hydrogen fuel-cell train at the InnoTrans railroad-industry trade show in Berlin last month.
Called the Coradia iLint, it’s based on the existing design of one of Alstom’s diesel-powered trains.
It will enter service in Germany in December 2017, providing the world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger rail service, according to CityLab.
Each train consists of individual self-propelled rail cars, something known in the rail industry as a “multiple-unit” configuration.
Alstom claims enough onboard hydrogden storage capacity for a 497-mile range, and quotes a top speed of 87 mph.
Read more: Alstom hydrogen fuel-cell train to be tested in Germany
