Ever knew that a train can run for all day without getting recharged or refuelled? If not here’s the new invention of Swiss Company ‘Stadler’ that has done this miracle, whether it is magic or brain behind this, let’s read out!!
Stadler, a Swiss Company has set a Guinness World Record (GWR) with its hydrogen-powered train after it travelled nonstop for 1,741 miles (2,803 km).
The company has grabbed this incredible achievement during a test in Colorado, USA, where they have used a special hydrogen-powered passenger train car.
There are eco-friendly ways to get around as electric cars usually come to the mind first. The hydrogen-powered trains are awesome for cutting down on pollution from exhaust pipes.
There is also a need to think about big ways to move lots of people sustainably, as many people are now disliking electric cars because of the issues they are experiencing.
Many people have seen electric vehicles catching fires and problem of getting them charged late. Many companies have now stopped making electric cars such as Toyota, which has shifted back to combustion engines.
Toyota believes that the future lies in hydrogen cars. Hence, have introduced the Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Car.
The car companies have been showing off electric buses, which is really cool, but talking about trains is indeed a big deal. They can haul way more people all at once.
Electric trains have already been running for a while, but they require extra stuff like overhead wires to work.
Moreover, sometimes the electricity they use comes from sources like coal or natural gas and such sources kind of defeats the purpose of going electric. And here comes trains which are run by hydrogen power and comes as handy.
Considering this big achievement, CEO of Stadler – Martin Ritter said, “Stadler is always looking ahead in rail transport, working on new technologies.”
CEO Ritter claimed, “By using hydrogen as a clean energy source, we’re helping the environment and paving the way for eco-friendly travel with zero emissions.”
Stadler’s FLIRT
FLIRT-H2 is what has been give as a name to Stadler’s hydrogen train. The train is made up of two passenger cars with a power packed in between.
The power pack holds hydrogen in tanks and uses fuel cells to turn it into electricity. The hydrogen then gets converted into electricity and it is sent to a traction converter and stores it into a battery.
The battery then charges the electric drive that moves the train. Yet, it’s smart and it can even collect energy when the train brakes are applied, it makes the whole system more efficient.
The two-car setup can carry 108 passenger and zip along at a top speed of 79 miles (130 km) per hour. It is tough also to build and handle scorching temperatures as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit which approximately counts to 49 degrees Celsius.
When FLIRT-H2 made the record
The FLIRT-H2 was originally created for the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) and it is impressive. The interesting thing about this train is that it can keep running all day without needing to refuel.
Right now, the test is still going on at the tracks of Colorado, as it will start its services soon, by the end of this year. Stadler wanted to prove how good it is, so they have gone for a Guinness World Record.
The first attempt was initiated on the evening of March 20, 2024 with Guiness World Record officials being there to witness it.
The Stadler engineers took many turns while driving the train through the night and into the next day. The train had covered 1,741.7 miles (2,803 km) when it stopped around 5:23 p.m. on March 22, 2024 over 46 hours on just one tank fuel.
FLIRT-H2 is more than what it is supposed to be and was able to do, what they say it can go about 285 miles (460 km) on a tank. But a super long trip like this can’t be expected every day.
The run, on which record was made didn’t had normal stops and started as a regular trip and tackled different kinds of slopes that came in between. The record made proves that it could be a big deal for the trains.
Recalling 2023, California’s Transportation Authority ordered four FLIRT-H2 trains with four cars each with an aim to carry more passengers.
The hydrogen-powered train FLIRT-H2 consists of the specifications of running at a maximum speed of 79 mph (127 km/h) and gives a range of more than 286 miles (460 km). The train can carry a total of 116 passengers and can be refuelled after surpassing every 30 minutes.