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The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) is the trade association for the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry, and is dedicated to the commercialization of fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies. Fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies deliver clean, reliable power to leading edge corporate, academic and public sector users, and FCHEA members are helping to transform our energy future. FCHEA represents the full global supply chain, including universities, government laboratories and agencies, trade associations, fuel cell materials, components and systems manufacturers, hydrogen producers and fuel distributors, utilities and other end users.

Fuel Cell Trains Updates

Transitions

Fuel Cell Trains Updates

Connor Dolan

Powering Commuter Rail

Fuel cell buses have been providing clean commutes to the public for years, but the benefits of hydrogen for other modes of public transit are being explored, with fuel cell-powered commuter trains being trialed by multiple rail operators worldwide. We have previously posted in “In Transition” on the initial trials in Europe. Since that point, more railroad companies have explored how fuel cells and hydrogen perform in the real world. Fuel cells provide a solution to decarbonizing train transit by replacing diesel locomotives on longer routes, while using the same fueling depot model as current diesel operations.

European Testing Deployments

FCHEA member Hexagon Purus is providing fuel cell components to two rail manufacturers for hydrogen train development. The first partner, Stadler Rail, was announced in November 2020 and will construct and test trains in Switzerland before trials in California with San Bernadino’s transit authority in 2023. Hexagon is also working with Talgo S.A., a Spanish train manufacturer that announced in January 2021 that it was working to develop hydrogen in the Iberian peninsula.

Talgo is using fuel cell modules from another FCHEA member, Ballard Power Systems, for demonstrations, as announced in October 2021. The companies plan demonstrations for early 2022, with commercialization beginning in 2023. Ballard has been working with train manufacturer Siemens Mobility since 2017. The jointly developed Mireo Plug H light rail train will be trialed in Bavaria, Germany, in 2022 through an agreement with the state government. Ballard has also partnered with Canadian Pacific on fuel cell locomotives that will be demonstrated in December 2021.

A rendering of the Mireo Plus H fuel cell locomotive. (Source: Ballard Power Systems)

A rendering of Canadian Pacific’s hydrogen fuel cell locomotive. (Source: Canadian Pacific)

Asian Countries Aim to Deploy

Hydrogen-powered locomotives are also being demonstrated in East Asia. In Japan, FCHEA member Toyota partnered with Japan Railway East and Hitachi on hydrogen rail development in October 2020, with the companies planning tests in March 2022. Chinese media announced a trial of fuel cell trains happening in the region of Inner Mongolia, China, in late October 2021.

In South Korea, the government announced a project in September 2021 aiming for trail commercialization by 2023. The project will bring together Hyundai Rotem and several colleges to collaboratively design the fuel cell modules, while utilizing idle rail tracks in the city of Ulsan to drive 2,500 kilometers, testing optimal driving patterns.

New Partnerships Announced

Another FCHEA member working on hydrogen train development is General Motors, which announced in June 2021 that it had partnered with locomotive company Wabtec to commercialize fuel cell and battery solutions for trains. General Motors will provide its HYDROTEC fuel cell modules as a power solution. Toyota has joined a similar partnership in Europe, where its fuel cells will be supplied to the FCH2RAIL project. Funded by Europe’s Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) funding program, the locomotive models in the FCH2RAIL project will be capable of drawing power from overhead wires or using fuel cells where existing power lines are not an option.

 

The recent trial deployments of fuel cell locomotives, combined with the commercial operation of Alstom’s Coradia hydrogen trains, show hydrogen’s potential to decarbonize locomotive travel.