CRRC hydrogen train

CRRC and Chengdu Rail Transit have developed a zero-emission hydrogen train that will soon be on Chinese tracks. The vehicle can reach speeds of up to 160 km/h and is also the fastest train of its kind. It is reported by Railway Supply magazine with reference to Raport Kolejowy.

The four-car train to be launched is powered by hydrogen fuel cells with a supercapacitor buffer that emits only water. Energy is generated by the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell, avoiding the release of nitrogen and sulfur. This is an alternative solution for traditional traction networks.

Delivery times for Chinese goods by RZD have increased significantly due to the outbreak of coronavirus in China

Environmental considerations are not the only pluses of the train. This project also has a number of intelligent driving features – the train does not require the presence of a driver. It starts and stops automatically, has a 5G connection and a return to depot function. It can carry 1502 passengers.

Germany is currently the leader in hydrogen transport, with about 14 Alstom hydrogen trains in operation since 2022. They offer a long range, over 1,000 km, while a CRRC train can cover 600 km. However, the Chinese train can outperform Alstom by about 20 km/h.

According to the latest data, it is not Japan and Korea that are the countries that are promoting green transportation solutions the most, but China is leading the way in the use of hydrogen in vehicles. There are more than 1,000 hydrogen stations in the world, a third of which are located in China.

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