The Ningdong was officially unveiled in Datong City, Shanxi Province on June 15, 2023.
According to a report by Tomorrow’s World Today, the train is not only the world’s first hydrogen-powered urban train, but it is also the fastest hydrogen train to date.
With the use of hydrogen fuel cells and supercapacitors through an in-built hydrogen power system, the train is reported to travel up to 373 miles on a single charge. In addition, it would only take two hours to refuel its 270kg capacity of liquified hydrogen.
Another benefit of the train is that it can be used in non-electrified line sections, without operators needing to invest heavily in railway infrastructure and maintenance.
Using hydrogen as fuel will become a popular energy solution globally due to its sustainability, affordability, and abundance. Unlike fossil fuels, the use of hydrogen does not emit harmful pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions. The electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen will reside in the fuel cell, with the only byproduct of train use being water.
While some of its core technology has been relayed from the Fuxing bullet train in China, the Ningdong hydrogen-train has also been equipped with a high degree of autonomy, allowing it to automatically wake up, start, stop, and return to its depot. For the safety of passengers, the train uses big data analysis and 5G high-capacity vehicle-to-ground communication technology to optimize the vehicle control process, ensuring efficiency and the safe reliability of train operations.
In addition to this, it has intelligent monitoring, multiple sensors to self-check and self-perceive operations, and an interlock on the hydrogen fuel cell system.
CRRC has also taken further precautions with heat and fire insulation and a fireproof wall which separates the hydrogen storage from the fuel cells. CRRC has also stated that the hydrogen fuel cells have been made with an “explosion-proof design.”
A ventilation system has also been installed for the hydrogen storage room on the train, which is reported to replace all the air in the train within five minutes.
The CRCC estimates that hydrogen trains could replace up to 90% of the 7,800 diesel locomotives operating in China due to its efficient energy conversion, which accounts for 36% of the country’s transportation vehicles.