India likely to have hydrogen-powered trains by Dec next year: Union Minister

“We are designing and the design will come out in May or June,” Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters during a visit to the southern city of Bengaluru.

According to the news agency, the hydrogen-powered train will be called the Vande Metro and will be mass-produced with the goal of replacing the trains built in the 1950s and 1960s.

Currently, most trains in India run on diesel or electricity.

In an effort to reduce carbon emissions and achieve climate goals, governments around the world are looking for sustainable transport alternatives and betting on clean hydrogen is part of this effort. . Concerns about The future of Such efforts and associated costs are increased from several quarters, which makes the future uncertain.

In July this year, Germany became the first country in the world to run trains powered by hydrogen. The total cost of the train is reported to be $86 million, and the manufacturing company claims it is a “real alternative to diesel power.”

“The Alstom Coradia iLint is the world’s first and only passenger ship powered by hydrogen fuel cells. This completely zero-emission vessel operates quietly and emits only steam and condensate. The vessel features a number of different innovations: clean energy conversion and an efficient energy supply and storage system combined with intelligent energy management. Specifically designed for use on non-electrified lines, it enables clean, sustainable train operation,” the company’s website says.

The German hydrogen-powered train comes as European countries are working to cut their dependence on oil, especially from countries like Russia, following the invasion of Ukraine.

Hydrogen-powered vehicles produce water and heat as by-products rather than the usual toxic gases emitted by diesel or gasoline engines.

With input from Reuters.