China’s first hydrogen passenger train completes tests, with similar ranges and speeds to European models
CRRC claims world-leading status on energy efficiency for a fuel-cell train
Chinese state-owned train manufacturer CRRC has completed tests of the country’s first passenger train run on hydrogen fuel cells.
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German technology firm Siemens’ Mireo Plus H train also has a maximum speed of 160km/h, with its three-car unit designed for ranges between 800km and 1,000km.
French manufacturer Alstom’s Coradia iLint also has a maximum specified range of 1,000km, although it had in 2022 demonstrated a 1,175km run without refuelling. However, its top speed is slightly lower at 140km/h.
Swiss-based Stadler’s FLIRT H2 trains fall behind the pack, with a maximum range of 460km and top speed of 127km/h.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Talgo is leading a consortium to develop a hydrogen-electric hybrid train that would reach speeds of more than 250km/h.
However, CRRC claims that its train is world-leading when it comes to energy efficiency, with test data showing an average energy consumption of 5kWh/km.
The train also features automatic driving functions, such as to start, stop and return to the warehouse, although it is unclear if these were tested by CRRC.