The "green" tinsel town today is abuzz with the promising news of the world's first zero-emissions hydrogen-powered train. Manufactured by esteemed French rail transport company Alstom and entitled as Coradia iLint, the futuristic train is set to make its debut in the upcoming year in Lower Saxony, Germany. A version of Coradia Lint 54, the hydrail is the first of its kind to be armed with fuel cell & emits just steam & condensed water. It will operate on Buxtehude -Bremervörde- Bremerhaven from December 2017 and speaks of a great eco-friendly endeavor.
A brief on Coradia iLint
The world's first zero-emissions hydrogen-powered train was initially presented last August at InnoTrans trade show in Berlin and its testing is set to be conducted in the final quarter of 2016. It's a 300-passenger train which will cover around 497 miles at a speed of 87mph. The unused energy in the train would be stored in its Lithium batteries which rest at the very bottom of the vehicle.
The technology behind Coradia iLint
The revolutionary hydrail is fitted with the very same equipment that we find in regular diesel trains yet it runs on the completely new technology of hydrogen fuel tank. The tank is built on the vehicle roof which powers fuel cell for the production of electrical energy that drives the train. The fuel cell is a powerful blend of hydrogen & oxygen that help to produce electricity that is stored in Lithium batteries. Each of the 2-car train sets would require one fuel cell & a 94 kg hydrogen tank and the oxygen is derived from local air. One full hydrogen tank will allow the hydrail to cover 800 km.
Benefits of Coradia iLint
The phenomenal hydrail assures a "greener" alternative to the regular polluting diesel-powered trains. It just produces condensed water and steam as byproducts and creates a safer layer for Mother Earth. Unlike the diesel vehicles, the zero-emissions hydrogen-powered train does not drain out the natural fossil fuels for power. Moreover, the hydrogen used as fuel source in the train is recycled waste hydrogen which is otherwise burnt off by chemical companies. Besides, Coradia iLint promises a quiet noiseless operation.
Germany shows a commendable step by launching zero-emission hydrail as the country alone has an alarming volume of 4,000+ diesel train cars.
The first batch of Coradia iLint will embark on its historical journey with a short 96 km route. However, 4 German states are reported to have signed agreements for sixty additional locomotives.