PESA, the largest rolling stock manufacturer in Poland, has unveiled the first hydrogen-powered locomotive certified for the European market

The ability to offer a commercially ready transportation vehicle with mobile refueling infrastructure was a key criterion in PESA’s development, according to the railway portal Railway Supply, citing Pesa.

The SM42-6Dn locomotive underwent preliminary testing at PESA’s facility in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in August 2022, before being showcased alongside a mobile refueling station at the InnoTrans exhibition a month later.

The hydrogen locomotive

Certification tests by the Railway Institute were completed in December, paving the way for the expected final approval in the first half of 2023.

The 70-ton locomotive is designed for shunting and light freight transport, with a maximum speed of 90 km/h and an operating temperature range from -25°C to +35°C.

This model represents a hydrogen-based modification of the SM42 locomotive series and is the first stage of the company’s zero-emission technology implementation program for rail vehicles.

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PESA plans to utilize the experience gained from this project in the construction of a hydrogen-powered passenger train, with the first prototype scheduled for 2025.

The PESA locomotive operates on two robust proton exchange membrane (PEM) modules with a power output of 85 kW each, supplied by Ballard Power Systems, which have proven themselves in zero-emission applications under heavy loads.

The hydrogen-based installation offers a reliable, versatile, and easily deployable solution for system integrators, providing route flexibility, range capacity, and maximum speeds required by operators in this industry.

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