The business notes that 46% of the railways in the European Union are not electrified, opening up a market for a diesel traction option with improved pollution management.
Alstom estimates that despite several electrification initiatives in various nations, a sizeable portion of Europe’s rail network will remain non-electrified in the long run.
The business notes that there are still numerous diesel trains in use across the world, with more than 4,000 cars in Germany alone.
With the 2016 Berlin InnoTrans trade show debut of its Coradia iLint model, Alstom began its road toward hydrogen-powered trains.
The company’s hydrogen-powered trains provide a “genuine alternative” to diesel trains since they can run on schedules that are comparable to diesel equivalents and have similar refueling ranges, procedures, and times.
According to Alstom, up to 27% of the world’s emissions are caused by activities linked to transportation. This makes transportation-related emissions a serious issue that has to be addressed.
In this regard, the business asserts that its Coradia iLint utilizes the current rail infrastructure without the need to invest in electrification or other changes or the retrofitting of new systems, functioning as a straightforward substitute for diesel trains. According to the business, this is crucial for low-density train lines.
The Coradia iLint train from Alstom has completed a successful test run over 1,175 kilometers without stopping for fuel. The typical range and peak speed of Alston hydrogen trains are 1000 km and 140 km/h, respectively.
Alstom has secured orders over the past three years from significant clients in Germany, France, and Italy for the deployment of hydrogen and battery trains.
The corporation has set a goal to reduce the energy usage of its solutions by 25% by 2025, using 2014 as the baseline year. Alstom has already reduced costs by 22% as of March this year.
