A new train in San Bernardino, California operates on a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and battery system whose only byproduct is water vapor, reports Jules Feeney in The Guardian.
“The new technology will make Zemu the first hydrogen-powered, zero-emissions passenger train in North America to meet Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requirements when it goes into service early next year,” Feeney explains.
The train is an experimental project, slated to run on a 9‑mile route between San Bernardino and Redlands, two cities east of Los Angeles, and could pave the way for more widespread adoption of the hydrogen system. The region suffers from heavily polluted air due to its role as a major hub for distribution centers.
State transportation leaders are taking note: “After seeing the early success of the Zemu project last year, the state’s department of transportation – known as Caltrans – commissioned Stadler to build longer versions of the hydrogen-powered trains that will run between Merced and Sacramento in the Central Valley on a yet-to-be-built line. So far, Caltrans has ordered 10 units, with the option to buy 19 more under the terms of the $80m contract.”
Feeney notes that widespread use of hydrogen ‑powered trains will require heavy investment in infrastructure for building trains and producing hydrogen fuel, a process that requires energy itself.
