FUNDING has been agreed for the development of Europe’s first hydrogen-powered LRV. Germany’s Federal Ministry of Digital Infrastructure and Transport (BMDV) will provide up to €8m under the second phase of its National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology for the HyTraGen (Hydrogen Tram Next Generation) project.
Originally conceived by Chemnitz-based Hörmann Vehicle Engineering, the project now includes Leipzig-based LRV manufacturer Heiterblick, Flexiva Automation & Robotik and Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC).
TUC will receive €1.2m of federal funding for the project, that aims to have a prototype vehicle on the rails by the end of 2026. Test running is expected to take place in Görlitz, managed by local transport operator GVB.
TUC is currently focused on devising a refuelling strategy, developing degradation simulation models for the drive train and refining the fuel cell system in the laboratory. This work is expected to take three years.
Work on the project commenced in 2019 and is inspired by the development of hydrogen-powered LRVs in Asia – Hyundai Rotem is pioneering the technology in Korea. The consortium says the results from the project could also be used to develop other types of rolling stock, including tram-trains, which it is hoped will be built in Saxony.
“The hydrogen LRV isn’t in direct competition with networks which already operate with OHLE,” says Dr Volkmar Vogel, senior vice-president of Hörmann Vehicle Engineering. “Rather, it is an alternative for routes where OHLE is not necessary or useful. New districts and suburban areas can be developed much more easily and with lower infrastructure costs.”
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