World’s First Hydrogen Powered Train The Coradia iLint

“World’s First Hydrogen Train” by Linus Follert is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

The Alstom’s Coradia iLint (Cur-ah-de-uh Eye-lint) is the name of the world’s first hydrogen powered train. Alstom is a German company that has been developing solutions for pollution in the sector of rail transport.

The Coradia iLint is operating successfully in Germany, France, Austria, and the Netherlands, and has confirmed plans to be operating in the UK later.

The train is a CO2-emission-free regional train and an alternative to diesel power. It is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell and its only emission is steam and condensed water.

The Coradia iLint can travel up to 800 km, about 500 miles, on a tankful, at 140km/h, about 87 mph, with a capacity of 300 people including 150 seated.

“World’s First Hydrogen Train” by Linus Follert is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Well, the fuel cell provides the electricity and is applied with hydrogen on demand, and combining oxygen with the hydrogen, it provides enough energy to supply the vehicle. The energy is stored in Lithium-ion batteries, it stores energy not used at that moment to later distribute it as needed.

The fuel cell is mainly used to provide traction power during the acceleration, with extra support from the batteries if required. During the braking, kinetic energy is generated, recharging batteries and making the train almost self-sufficient to power on board systems. On low acceleration phases, the batteries power traction and on board systems, and the fuel cell can charge the batteries whenever.