French firm unveils hydrogen fuel cell-powered train

Alstom is among the first companies to incorporate hydrogen fuel cell technology into train systems. Image Alstom

Hydrogen fuel cell technology was one of the first proposed alternatives to replace fossil fuels. But despite the marketing and the hype, it didn’t get much acceptance for cars. In light of this, a France-based company is attempting to adopt hydrogen fuel cells into trains.

Alstom, a company that specializes in integrated railway systems, presented a zero-emission train at InnoTrans, a railway industry trade fair that is ongoing in Berlin from Sept. 20 to 23. Dubbed the Coradia iLint, its trains run on hydrogen fuel cell technology and its only emission is steam and condensed water.

Utilizing hydrogen fuel cells requires expert hands to operate, so to make it easy on operators, Alstom is offering a package that includes the train, maintenance and the entire hydrogen infrastructure with help from partners.

Trains are among the most widely used public transportation systems in the world due to its large capacity and range. Having zero-emission train systems that have their own source of power instead of connecting to an electric grid or relying on diesel power would go a long way in terms of bringing down the global carbon footprint.  Alfred Bayle