Hydrogen Central

Cummins Fuel Cell Technology Powers New Hydrogen Powered, Zero-Emissions Rail Fleet In Germany

cummins fuel cell technology hydrogen rail

Cummins fuel cell technology powers new hydrogen powered, zero-emissions rail fleet in Germany.

Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), 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 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 in 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.

“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 Cummins 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.

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 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.

About Cummins Inc.

Cummins Inc., a global power technology leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions.

The company’s products range from internal combustion, electric and hybrid integrated power solutions and components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products.

Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (U.S.), since its founding in 1919, Cummins employs approximately 59,900 people committed to powering a more prosperous world through three global corporate responsibility priorities critical to healthy communities: education, environment and equality of opportunity.

Cummins serves its customers online, through a network of company-owned and independent distributor locations, and through thousands of dealer locations worldwide and earned about $2.1 billion on sales of $24 billion in 2021.

READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Hydrogen Central

CUMMINS FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY POWERS NEW ZERO-EMISSIONS RAIL FLEET IN GERMANY, August 25, 2022

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