Germany is expected to have its first emissions-free passenger train on the track late in 2017.

The Coradia iLint train, built by French manufacturer Alstom, and unveiled in September 2016, is powered by fuel cells that use waste hydrogen and oxygen. The train’s only emission is steam and condensed water, Alstom says, and it operates at a low noise level.

The Coradia iLint is the latest in the Alstom series of trains that currently operate in Germany, France, and other countries. However, for the iLint, the standard diesel engine has been replaced with fuel cell technology that enables sustainable rail operations with performance levels that match those of conventional engines.

How It Works

The so-called hydrail, or hydrogen-powered, regional passenger train uses an electrical traction drive. The electrical energy is generated on-board in a fuel cell and stored in lithium-ion batteries mounted under the train.

(Click to enlarge) Main components of the Coradia iLint train. Image source: AlstomThe fuel cell provides electrical energy by combining waste hydrogen stored in an on-board tank with oxygen from ambient air, allowing the train to operate more quietly and cleanly than a diesel engine.

(Watch a video of the technology.)

The lithium-ion batteries store energy from the fuel cell, and also from kinetic energy of the train during braking, and provide the energy boost as needed during acceleration phases. The only by-product produced by the technology is steam and condensed water, Alstom says.

Moreover, the fuel source makes the entire process "effectively" carbon neutral. That’s because the hydrogen was already created as a waste product by chemical companies and other manufacturers. Typically, this waste hydrogen is burned off, but now it can be recycled into a new power source that places no additional burden on the environment.

In terms of performance, the Coradia iLint holds a hydrogen fuel tank sufficient for a 497-mile journey. The energy generated by the fuel cell is capable of propelling the train to speeds of up to 87 miles, or 140 km, an hour. Like previous Coradia diesel models, the train can accommodate about 150 seated passengers or 300 standing.

The train is made for regional or shorter distances, and is scheduled to begin operation in December 2017. It will run the approximately 60-mile route between the city of Buxtehude, near Hamburg, and the seaside town of Cuxhaven.

An agreement between Alstom and German transportation officials for the hydrail train was inked in 2014.

Although the Coradia iLint is believed to be more expensive than existing diesel models, officials in other parts of Germany, as well as in Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, have expressed interest in putting the trains into their regular rail service.