Worldwide, many transit and rail systems operators are facing tough new emissions targets. Zero-emission trains are the fastest route to meeting those goals.

In transportation, hydrogen fuel cell train or hydrail is the generic term describing all forms of rail vehicles, large or small, which use on-board hydrogen fuel as a source of energy to power the traction motors, or the auxiliaries, or both. Hydrail vehicles use the chemical energy of hydrogen for propulsion, either by burning hydrogen in a hydrogen internal combustion engine, or by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to run electric motors.

Hydrail vehicles are usually hybrid vehicles with renewable energy storage, such as batteries or super capacitors, for regenerative braking, improving efficiency and lowering the amount of hydrogen storage required. Potential hydrail applications include all types of rail transport: commuter rail; passenger rail; freight rail; light rail; rail rapid transit; mine railways; industrial railway systems; trams; and special rail rides at parks and museums.

During the 2010s, both fuel cells and hydrogen generation equipment have been taken up by several transport operators across various countries, such as China, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In Denmark, the rail infrastruture is currently being converted towards electricifications and trains as battery-electric models, placing hydrails in possible considerations for future scenarios.

We help partners accelerate their green transitions.

Our vast knowhow tap into the main trends in the green transition, including the potentials around rail as the X in PtX. We collaborate with renewables suppliers in both funded projects as innovation partner or as a trusted consultancy partner.