China’s hydrogen ambitions chug on as train trial aims to keep green agenda on track
- Reaching 160km/h (99mph) in a trial run, new hydrogen-powered train is touted as cleaner transport option in nation’s bid to peak emissions by 2030
- But experts say more work needs to be done to cleanly produce hydrogen, with technical and cost impediments standing in the way
China’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train has reportedly hit the normal operating speed of mainstream commuter rail systems – but without any commuters on board.
And there is still a long way to go in its bid to reach speeds attained on the country’s vast high-speed rail lines that keep getting faster.
Nonetheless, state media said the milestone was evidence of the nation’s advancements in green technology and a step toward the commercialisation of cleaner transport options. The progress also comes as the world’s largest carbon emitter cranks up efforts to harness the clean-burning fuel ahead of a self-imposed deadline to peak the nation’s emissions by 2030 while transitioning to a greener, low-carbon economy.
The four-car train was said to have accelerated to 160km/h (99mph) in a trial run on Thursday at a facility of state-owned train maker CRRC in the northeastern city of Changchun, Jilin province. It boasts hydrogen fuel batteries and supercapacitors said to be capable of travelling at least 1,000km.
For context, the high-speed rail line from Beijing to Shanghai stretches 1,318km.
Xinhua quoted a technician with the CRRC’s national train technology centre as saying that the train’s powertrain, aerodynamics, brakes and safety systems were all being put to the test.