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The U.S. Needs to Get Rid of Its Diesel Trains. It’s Rapidly Replacing Them With Hydrogen Trains

  • ZEMU is the U.S.’s first hydrogen train and is currently being tested in California.

  • It can travel more than 1,742 miles without refueling, offering promising potential for the country’s railroads.

Hydrogen Train
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The railway system is vital for many countries. A well-developed rail infrastructure, combined with high-speed trains, provides a comfortable and low-emission mode of transportation for numerous people. While electric trains are common in many countries, the U.S. is distinct in using diesel locomotives, which are neither high-speed nor environmentally friendly.

Some states, including California, are seeking to address this issue. California is leading the way with a $10 billion investment in transitioning to clean energy. As part of this initiative, the Golden State is developing the U.S.’s first hydrogen train.

California’s EV plan. In 2022, California governor Gavin Newsom proposed a $10 billion package for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). The goal of the Zero-Emission Vehicle Program is to establish a network that encourages people to invest in electric cars, requiring investment in infrastructure and more charging stations.

The program includes notable points such as the creation of 485,000 jobs in clean energy and measures to prevent oil drilling and fracking in the state. However, the two key highlights are:

  • California aims to become the first state in North America to end the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035.
  • California also plans to be the first global area to mandate heavy-duty truck manufacturers to transition to zero-emission trucks by 2045.

A hydrogen commuter rail. As part of this initiative to reduce CO2 emissions in transportation, the California State Transportation Agency has allocated $407 million for investment in clean technology for trains and buses. This funding has led to the development of the ZEMU, or Zero Emissions Multiple Unit, a commuter train powered by hydrogen propulsion. The train will operate a route of around 9 miles in San Bernardino County, Southern California.

Currently undergoing testing, the ZEMU will soon begin carrying passengers. Tim Watkins, an authority in the San Bernardino transportation department, explained that the 9-mile route is part of a pilot project, and the train will eventually cover longer distances.

Battery. Unlike many electric trains that rely on electrified infrastructure, the ZEMU runs on hybrid batteries and hydrogen. The train is based on the Flirt H2 model from the Swiss company Stadler and can travel more than 1,740 miles without refueling. Remarkably quiet, the train’s only emission is water vapor.

Green commitment. California is prioritizing decarbonization and investing in green transportation. The state is home to many of the world’s largest technology companies, which have ambitious goals for 2030 and aim for net zero emissions by 2050. California is also making significant investments in renewables to reduce its reliance on combustion sources.

Particularly solar energy. The U.S. has increased its grid storage capacity tenfold since 2020 by installing 10,000 MW in batteries. Additionally, there’s been a surge in the installation of rooftop solar panels, with some installations provided at no cost. This led to a surplus of solar energy production.

European projects. Looking toward the future, the plan is to expand the use of ZEMU trains in more areas since there’s no need to build new infrastructure. According to Watkins, this marks a significant moment because of the train’s flexibility to be deployed anywhere in the country. Beyond the U.S., other countries that currently have diesel locomotives are also exploring the use of hydrogen or electric trains.

In Germany, for instance, the state of Lower Saxony learned a difficult lesson while testing a hydrogen train as part of its decarbonization plan. The authorities discovered that it’s more cost-effective to opt for battery-electric trains instead of relying solely on hydrogen-powered ones. Additionally, in Spain, Talgo is getting ready to introduce its Vittal One train, designed to operate on the 50,000 miles of European tracks that haven’t been electrified yet.

This article was written by Alejandro Alcolea and originally published in Spanish on Xataka.

Image | goSBCTA

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