Hydrogen to power trains of the future

French TGV-maker Alstom has unveiled the world’s first passenger- carrying hydrogen-powered train – the two-car Coradia iLint has a range of 600km and can travel at speeds of up to 140km/h

Alstom Coradia iLint: Two-car train with 138 seats plus capacity for 190 standing passengers

Traction motor: Drives wheels for acceleration and braking

Fuel cell: 200kW

Fuel tanks: 99kg of hydrogen at 350bar

Lithium-ion batteries
225kW. Store surplus fuel-cell energy and recover kinetic energy from braking

Fuel cell: Combines hydrogen with oxygen to produce electricity, water and heat

Hydrogen H2

Oxygen O2 from air

Exhaust H2O water


Unused hydrogen recovered

Catalyst: Splits hydrogen atoms into positively charged ions, H+, and negatively charged electrons, e–

Electrons create electric current, hydrogen ions combine with oxygen to form water


Sources: Alstom, Institution of Mechanical Engineers © GRAPHIC NEWS