European Railroad Discussion > Hydrogen trains in Deutschland

My son sent me an article about using hydrogen FLIRT trains in north Germany out of Cuxhaven.  Apparently after testing, the train service operated well, so they converted the line to hydrogen trains.  Natually they were crowing about zero emissions.  But how much energy was used to produce the hydrogen?  

In any case, I think it is a good step in the right direction of alternative fuels.  

Could autos operate on hydrogen?  

Hydrogen is pretty easy to make by electrolyzing water. Hook that up to solar or nuclear sources, and you have a zero carbon system. 

I think it will overtake electric cars...

Victor B.

march_hare Wrote:
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> Hydrogen is pretty easy to make by electrolyzing
> water. Hook that up to solar or nuclear sources,
> and you have a zero carbon system. 

The Rhine is so low that barges can't navigate. The Loire is virtually empty. Sunken WWII ships are visible in the Danube.

That may not be such a good solution.

TAW

MEKoch Wrote:
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> Could autos operate on hydrogen?  

They already do. The Honda Murai is powered by fuel-cell that uses hydrogen. A few of the alternative fueling stations here in Southern California have hydrogen available.

 

PHall Wrote:
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> MEKoch Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > Could autos operate on hydrogen?  
>
> They already do. The Honda Murai is powered by
> fuel-cell that uses hydrogen. A few of the
> alternative fueling stations here in Southern
> California have hydrogen available.

Toyota Murai.

TAW Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> march_hare Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hydrogen is pretty easy to make by
> electrolyzing
> > water. Hook that up to solar or nuclear
> sources,
> > and you have a zero carbon system. 
>
> The Rhine is so low that barges can't navigate.
> The Loire is virtually empty. Sunken WWII ships
> are visible in the Danube.
>
> That may not be such a good solution.

Thankfully, the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and the English Channel still have plenty of water.  Making hydrogen is actually easier and more efficient with salt water than fresh water.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> I think it will overtake electric cars...
>
> Victor B.

While I'm bullish on fuel cells in general and especially for rail applications, I'm far more skeptical for their chances to succeed in cars. Hydrogen infrastructure is very hard to build out at sufficient scale for automotive applications, and fuel cells are at a disadvantage vs. batteries for power delivery.

I'm happy to see they converted the line to HFC entirely though - very exciting!