zero emissions hydrogen train (photo courtesy of the telegraph)

Germany is leading the way in green technology by unveiling the world’s first zero-emission passenger train, the Coradia iLint – powered by hydrogen!

The iLint only emits excess steam into the atmosphere, and provides an alternative to the country’s 4,000 diesel trains.

Lower Saxony has already ordered 14 of them from French company Alstom and, according to Die Welt, more are likely to be seen around the country if they are successfult.

It will open up to the public next December, in 2017.

There’s also interest in the train from the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway.

The iLint is powered by huge lithium ion batteries which get their energy from a hydrogen fuel tank on the roof of the train. The hydrail can travel almost 500 miles per day at speeds of up to 87mph, and the only sound it gives off comes from the wheels and air resistance.

Hydrogen power works when hydrogen is burned with oxygen to produce huge amounts of energy, with the only by-product being water.Fun fact! NASA has been using liquid hydrogen to propel its rockets into space since the 1970s. The huge cloud that erupts when one of its shuttles takes off isn’t actually smoke but steam!

Source:

The Independent