Hydrogen Train Specifications: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today flagged off India’s first hydrogen train at Jind railway station in Haryana. The country has joined the elite club of 6 countries in the world that currently have trains that run on Hydrogen. Instead of a diesel or an electric locomotive, the train uses hydrogen fuel cell technology and emits zero emissions. Let’s take a look at India’s first hydrogen train specifications and how it works.
How Much Power Does India's Hydrogen Train Produce?
India’s first hydrogen train covers an 89 km long distance between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana. The train has a total of 10 coaches, and it can accommodate a total of 2,600 passengers in one trip. The train draws power from a 1200kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system that generates electricity from a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The only thing emitted by the train is water vapour. The total power output of the hydrogen train stands at 2400kW or 3,200 hp. The train will currently operate at a speed of 75 km/h, but it can operate on a higher speed of up to 110 km/h.
India’s First Hydrogen Train: How Does It Work?
We have already mentioned the power output and top speed of India’s first hydrogen train. But do you know how it generates such power? Let’s take a look at how the hydrogen train works. The train uses a proton exchange membrane (PEM), which is placed on the power cars of the train, along with high-pressure cylinders that contain compressed hydrogen. The hydrogen mixes with oxygen inside the fuel cell, and an electrochemical reaction splits the protons and electrons of hydrogen atoms to create electricity. The electricity is then sent to the train’s electric motors, and the train starts moving. The train has two hydrogen-powered cars at each end, and the whole powertrain is further supported by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries for enhanced acceleration and efficient management of peak loads.
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India’s First Hydrogen Train & Elite Club Of 6
As mentioned above, India has joined the likes of Germany, China, US, France, and Japan. Germany was the first country to launch a hydrogen-powered train, whereas China currently has the fastest hydrogen-powered train in the world, and it can run at speeds of up to 160 km/h. The beginning of the first hydrogen train in India is being seen as a significant step for the future, as it will take the country closer to its net-zero emissions target.