A train that runs on hydrogen, made by a Swiss company called Stadler, just made history. It travelled nonstop for a whopping 1,741 miles (that’s about 2,803 kilometers), earning itself a spot in the Guinness World Records.
This incredible achievement happened during a test in Colorado, USA, where they used a special hydrogen-powered passenger train car.
When we think about eco-friendly ways to get around, electric cars usually come to our mind first. They’re awesome for cutting down on pollution from exhaust pipes. But we also need to think about big ways to move lots of people sustainably.
Many people are now disliking electric cars because they are experiencing a lot of issues, such as fires and charging problems. Due to these reasons, many companies have stopped making electric cars, like Toyota, which has shifted back to combustion engines because they believe the future lies in hydrogen cars. That’s why they introduced the Toyota Mirai hydrogen car.
Lately, car companies have been showing off electric buses, which is cool. But trains? They can haul way more people all at once.
Electric trains have been around for a while, but they require extra stuff like overhead wires to work. Plus, sometimes the electricity they use comes from dirty sources like coal or natural gas, which kinda defeats the purpose of going electric. That’s where hydrogen-powered trains come in handy.
The Hydrogen Train by Stadler – FLIRT
Stadler’s hydrogen train is named FLIRT-H2. It’s made up of two passenger cars with a power pack in between. This power pack holds hydrogen in tanks and uses fuel cells to turn it into electricity.
After converting hydrogen into electricity, it’s sent to a traction converter and stored in a battery. This battery powers the electric drive that moves the train. Plus, it’s smart – it can even collect energy when the train brakes, making the whole system more efficient.
This two-car setup can carry 108 passengers and zip along at a top speed of 79 miles (130 km) per hour. It’s tough too, built to handle scorching temperatures as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius).
The run that set the record
The FLIRT-H2 was made for the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), and it’s impressive – it can keep running all day without needing to refuel. Right now, it’s undergoing tests at a track in Colorado before it starts service later this year. Stadler wanted to prove just how good it is, so they went for a Guinness World Record.
The attempt kicked off on the evening of March 20, with Guinness World Record officials there to witness it. Stadler engineers took turns driving the train through the night and into the next day. When the train finally stopped at 5:23 pm on March 22, it had covered 1,741.7 miles (2,803 km) over 46 hours, all on just one tank of fuel.
This is way more than what FLIRT H2 is supposed to be able to do – they say it can go about 285 miles (460 km) on a tank. But don’t expect this kind of super long trip every day. The record run didn’t have the normal stops and starts a regular trip would, or different kinds of slopes to deal with. Still, it proves that hydrogen fuel could be a big deal for trains.
In 2023, California’s Transportation Authority ordered four FLIRT H2 trains with four cars each, aiming to carry more passengers.
“Stadler is always looking ahead in rail transport, working on new technologies. By using hydrogen as a clean energy source, we’re helping the environment and paving the way for eco-friendly travel with zero emissions.”
Martin Ritter, CEO of Stadler, said in a press release
Here are the Specification of FLIRT-H2 hydrogen-powered:
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Range | > 286 miles (460 kilometers) |
| Maximum Speed | 79 mph (127 km/h) |
| Refueling Time | < 30 minutes |
| Seating Capacity | 116 passengers |
| Powertrain | Hydrogen fuel cells -> electricity -> traction batteries & HVAC |
