The world’s first electric power from hydrogen-powered train has been started on Sunday on his maiden voyage in the North of Germany. The technique, however, has a drawback.
Pretty he is, the “Coradia iLint” of the French company Alstom. From the outside, sky blue, resembles he inside most of the private trains in the lower Saxony local transport on the go. Nevertheless, there is a big difference between the “Coradia iLint” and comparable models of other companies: While most of the trains on non-electrified commuter lines today are still powered with Diesel, the blue-Alstom-train with electricity, produced by the Oxidation of hydrogen in fuel cells.
An Alternative to the diesel mode
On Sunday, the premiere was a journey – starting from this Monday, the emission-free train to connect the cities of Bremervörde, Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven and Buxtehude, it said in a statement.
Technically, the iLint is based on its proven Diesel-brother. Only that he has roof-mounted hydrogen Tanks and fuel cells. The fuel cells convert be powered by the hydrogen directly into electrical energy with the help of two electric motors. Instead of carbon dioxide, soot and particulate matter, hydrogen engines emit only water vapor. Two heavy batteries to save the energy from braking and excess power from the cell. Another plus: The train is virtually silent.
From the Inside of the low-emission fuel-cell-train on his Diesel-powered counterparts.
The drawback of the fuel cell
The connection of hydrogen and fuel cell applies according to experts, an ideal drive with a view to climate protection. The future of the fuel zellenzug-operated route is not electrified by means of overhead lines. There diesel engines run so far, car.
Although Alstom declares the eco-friendliness of the “iLint”, there is also criticism from environmentalists: Because pure hydrogen does not occur in nature, but must be solved with a high expenditure of energy from Compounds such as water and the consumed energy, which is not necessarily from renewable sources.
Of water and energy, water is recycled. In the fuel cell, the hydrogen then reacts with oxygen and produces electric power, the electric motors can power.
Alstom, for the lower Saxony trains in the early phase of hydrogen, which is obtained as a by-product in the industry. According to a report of the NDR, the hydrogen car, first with the tank from the Netherlands. In the future, the required water should be produced of fabric, but directly in Bremervörde. A similar plant with the hydrogen filling station for the train is soon to be built. In addition, should be created in the future of the hydrogen with wind energy, the Alstom group.
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A train with a fuel cell instead of Diesel
In addition, the very porous network of hydrogen filling stations is the main problem of the fuel cell. In Hesse, such a regional trains are in the conversation, and the country promotes the planned gas station in the industrial Park Höchst, return to the the future of hydrogen-regional Railways from their tracks through the middle of the Taunus again and again.
On behalf of LNVG the fuel zellenzug is operated in lower Saxony by the Railways and transport companies of the Elbe-Weser GmbH (EVB). The two now in the service provided by trains pre-production vehicles. From the end of 2021 Alstom 14 wants to deliver more trains. Thus, the EVB replaced their fleet on this route. The order has a volume of around 81 million euros. “Very well spent money,” said lower Saxony’s Minister for Economics and transport Bernd Althusmann.
Range up to 1000 kilometers
The two hydrogen tanks hold 90 kilograms of hydrogen. Will be refueled within 15 minutes – with 350 Bar pressure. A hydrogen filling station has been installed, Alstom, lower Saxony, Minden, extra. So the “iLint should be able to drive” at a maximum speed of 140 km/h between 800 and 1000 kilometres on a tank of fuel.
Interest in the fuel-cell trains, the States of North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg and Hessen. In the Rhine-Main area, the second large order for the young technology can enjoy lower Saxony.
Alstom is also in negotiations with other European and North American countries. The company is to sell complete packages with the delivery of the trains, maintenance and energy supply.
Luke Hansen/iw/hb (DW, dpa, epd)