Cummins is powering the world’s first fleet of hydrogen trains in Bremervörde, Lower Saxony, Germany.
The Alstom Coradia iLint trains are outfitted with Cummins 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 mid-summer.
Amy Adams, Vice President of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies at Cummins, said, “The rail industry in Europe is entering a new era of sustainability, and Cummins is excited and ready to help transition it to emission-free solutions.”
Cummins is developing innovative 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.
Adams added, “Our work with Alstom to power the Coradia iLint demonstrates that we are committed, capable and ready to help decarbonise traditionally hard-to-abate industries and help drive the hydrogen economy in Europe.”
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.
Cummins 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). Cummins 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 Cummins’ 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.
Cummins 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, Cummins has been part of many other of the world’s hydrogen “firsts.”
This includes powering the world’s largest PEM electrolyser 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.
Cummins recently completed its acquisition of Meritor, a leading global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking, aftermarket and electric powertrain solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets.
The integration of Meritor’s people, products and capabilities in axle and brake technology will position Cummins as a leading provider of integrated powertrain solutions across internal combustion and electric power applications.
As demand for decarbonised solutions accelerates, ePowertrains will be a critical integration point within hybrid and electric drivetrains creating packaging and performance differentiation and the opportunity to provide advanced clean mobility products for customers.
Cummins intends to deliver decarbonised solutions to global customers by accelerating Meritor’s investment in electrification and integrating development within its New Power business.
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