The world's first zero-emissions train could be running by 2017

[nationalize the fed]

Maria Gallucci
Mashable • Nov 2, 2016

Passengers in Europe may soon be commuting on the world's first zero-emissions train.

French engineering giant Alstom is building a passenger train powered by hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries. The train won't emit any greenhouse gases — just clean steam.


Alstom's hydrogen-powered passenger train.

Alstom said its hydrogen-powered Coradia iLint trains could be running on German railroads as early as December 2017. The goal is to steadily replace Europe's diesel-powered trains, which spew toxic soot and carbon dioxide into the air...snip

Both hydrogen fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries have been greeted with some skepticism in the transportation sector. Hydrogen is an extremely flammable gas, and some electronics with lithium-ion batteries have famously caught on fire. (Does Samsung's Galaxy Note7 ring a bell?)

But manufacturers of hydrogen-powered cars, such as Toyota and Honda, say their vehicles are actually safer than petroleum-fueled cars, since hydrogen quickly dissipates in the atmosphere once released from the tank. Gasoline, by contrast, leaks and pools, creating a larger source for prolonged burns...snip
Read More: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/worlds-first-zero-emissions-train-213419803.html



Alstom unveils its zero-emission train Coradia iLint at InnoTrans
http://www.alstom.com/press-centre/2016/9/alstom-unveils-its-zero-emission-train-coradia-ilint-at-innotrans/

Brennstoffzellen sind die Zukunft

[kristopher]

1. The world is filled with zero emissions trains

http://www.dkfindout.com/uk/transport/history-trains/electric-trains/



http://transportblog.co.nz/2013/09/12/our-first-electric-train/

[nationalize the fed]

7. I didn't write the title

Here's CNN Today:

World's first zero-emission hydrogen train to begin operations in Germany

The world's first hydrogen powered, emission-free train is set to go into service in Germany in 2017 -- a ground-breaking innovation that could signal the phasing out of heavily polluting, diesel-powered trains...
http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/03/europe/germany-zero-emissions-train/

Where does a battery only electric train get its juice? Most likely from a coal fired power plant. Shifting the pollution source may make people feel good but that's all it does.

[bananas]

2. It only goes 87 mph

From the article in the OP:

The hydrogen tank will be large enough to fuel a nearly 500-mile journey and propel the train at up to 87 miles per hour, CityLab reported.

There are already lots of zero-emission trains which go much faster than that.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. Fast enough for the U.S.

Most trains in this country have a maximum speed limit of 79 MPH.

[ThoughtCriminal]

4. It really depends on how clean the production of hydrogen is

It takes energy the break water into hydrogen and oxygen. If you are using solar, wind or other non emitting system, then the claim is reasonable. If you are burning coal or gas in the process, you are simply polluting from another source. The same applies to electric trains.

[kristopher]

5. Yep. I intended to put quotes around zero emissions and forgot.

I was a bit pressed for time at that moment.

ETA, but even with the standard grid mix, the straight electric is most certainly cleaner since the round trip penalty for hydrogen is so high. The best onboard fuel would be biodiesel.

[NNadir]

6. Hydrogen HYPErcars will be in showrooms by 2005.

Hydrogen Cars May Hit Showrooms by 2005

Luckily, it didn't happen, since making hydrogen is an extremely dirty process.