Photo Credit: René Frampe, Alstrom
Last week, we told you about California’s commitment to go 100 percent carbon-free by 2045. Well, it turns out the Golden State is in good company. Germany has welcomed two of their first, state-of-the-art hydrogen-powered trains, according to Ars Technica.
The trains are built to run a total of 62-miles throughout the windswept hills of Northern Germany before refueling. These cutting-edge trains, known as Coradia iLint trains, are the first of its kind — with 14 more hydrogen-powered trains expected to be delivered before 2021 by the French train-building company Alstom. A big step towards Germany’s goal to lower transportation-related emission.
Hydrogen fuel cells bring other advantages, in addition to green energy. Unlike battery-powered vehicles, refueling a hydrogen-powered vehicle is just as fast as a vehicle powered by fossil fuels. While also bringing some disadvantages, as hydrogen is difficult to store and equally difficult to make a truly zero-emissions source. For now, the two Alstom trains refuel at Bremervörde from “a 40-foot-high steel container next to the tracks” — the company has yet to elaborate on how the hydrogen fuel is supplied.
Scientists and engineers continue to find new ways to create green energy. For this reason, researchers from around the world will come together at AiMES 2018 to discuss the future of energy technology and hydrogen energy storage at AiMES 2018. ECS meetings offer researchers the opportunity to come together, share results, and discuss ideas in the field, as well as a multitude of other disciplines, all within the electrochemical and solid state sciences. Meet the innovators of today and leaders of tomorrow this fall. Don’t miss it.
