Accelera fuel cell technology powers new zero-emissions rail fleet in Germany
*This press release was originally distributed as Cummins Inc. As of March 8, 2023, Accelera by Cummins is the new brand for Cummins’ New Power business segment.
Accelera by Cummins a global power and technology leader, is powering the world's first fleet of hydrogen trains in Bremervörde, Lower Saxony, Germany. The Alstom Coradia iLint trains are outfitted with Accelera fuel cell systems and will run on the world’s first 100%-hydrogen train route in passenger operation. The first zero-emissions passenger trains in the 14-train fleet arrived in mid-summer.
"The rail industry in Europe is entering a new era of sustainability, and Accelera is excited and ready to help transition it to emission-free solutions," said Amy Adams, Vice President of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies at Accelera.
"We are innovating fuel cell and hydrogen technology that can essentially convert existing infrastructure built for diesel trains into zero-emissions railways without expansive and expensive rail electrification. Our work with Alstom to power the Coradia iLint demonstrates that we are committed, capable and ready to help decarbonize traditionally hard-to-abate industries and help drive the hydrogen economy in Europe."
The Coradia iLint trains were developed by Alstom as an alternative to conventional diesel trains. They are powered by Accelera fuel cell systems that convert hydrogen fuel into energy and turn existing, non-electrified infrastructure into zero-emission rail lines. The systems allow the train to emit only steam and condensed water while in service and operate with low noise levels that improve both operator and passenger comfort.
Accelera and Alstom successfully launched the very first hydrogen-powered Coradia iLint train in Germany in 2018. The Coradia iLint has also been successfully tested in Austria, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden. The trains based in Lower Saxony will be the first full fleet in passenger operation and are owned by Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG). Accelera will provide an additional 54 fuel cell systems to Alstom for an order of 27 Coradia iLint trains that will be delivered to the Frankfurt metropolitan area.
The hydrogen fuel cell systems used in the trains are assembled at Accelera's Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems Production Center in Herten, Germany. The facility opened earlier this year, enabling accelerated adoption of hydrogen technologies across Europe and globally.
Accelera has a long history of advanced technology and engineering capabilities and innovates across a broad portfolio of market-leading renewable hydrogen technologies. In addition to the first hydrogen-powered passenger trains with Alstom, Accelera has been part of many other of the world’s hydrogen “firsts.” This includes powering the world’s largest PEM electrolyzer in operation at 20MW in Bécancour, Canada; the world’s first megawatt-scale demonstration plant for storing wind energy in the natural gas grid in Windgas Falkenhagen, Germany; the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell passenger ferry in California; and the world’s first hydrogen refueling station for ships, cars, trucks and industrial customers in Antwerp, Belgium.
