CRRC unveils China’s first converted hydrogen-powered locomotive

CRRC said the converted locomotive contains the largest fuel cell of any train around the world, with a capacity of 800 kW. The power can expand to 2,000 kW for different needs with various fuel cell types.

According to Huang Qichao, chairman of the Datong subsidiary of CRRC, the locomotive is equipped with a maximum of 270 kg of hydrogen supply. It can run continuously for 190 hours after completing a refuel for only two hours.

The hydrogen storage system is manufactured by Sinoma Science & Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., (Sinoma Suzhou), a Chinese company (part of the CNBM group) which specialized in new energy storage and transportation equipment and R & D, production and sales of composite cylinders for vehicles. According to Sinoma Suzhou, the hydrogen supply system of the ‘Ningdong’ locomotive is integrated with thirty 385 L super-large-capacity volume III type hydrogen storage cylinders, which are installed at the core of the locomotive to provide 270 kg of hydrogen storage capacity.

Converting diesel locomotives to hydrogen-powered ones is believed to be a cheaper choice than directly purchasing hydrogen trains. China has over 7,800 diesel locomotives, 90 % of which can be converted to hydrogen-powered locomotives, according to CRRC.