Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), a global leader in energy and technology, powers the world’s first fleet of hydrogen trains in Bremervorde, Lower Saxony, Germany.
Alstom Coradia iLint trains are equipped with Cummins fuel cell systems and will be used in passenger operations on the world’s first 100% hydrogen train route. The first emission-free passenger trains of the 14 train fleet arrived in mid-summer.
“The rail industry in Europe is entering a new era of sustainability, and Cummins is excited and ready to help them make the transition to zero-emission solutions,” said Amy Cummins, vice president of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies at Cummins.
“We are developing fuel cell and hydrogen technology that can essentially convert the existing infrastructure built for diesel trains into zero-emission railways without the need for extensive and expensive rail electrification. Our collaboration with Alstom to power the Coradia iLint shows, that we are committed, capable and ready to help decarbonize traditionally hard-to-degrade industries and advance the hydrogen economy in Europe.”
The Coradia iLint trains were developed by Alstom as an alternative to traditional diesel trains. They are powered by Cummins fuel cell systems that convert hydrogen fuel into energy, transforming existing, non-electrified infrastructure into zero-emission rail routes. The systems allow the train to emit only steam and condensate during operation and operate at low noise levels, improving operator and passenger comfort.
Cummins and Alstom successfully commissioned the first-ever 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 service and are owned by the Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LNVG). Cummins will supply Alstom with an additional 54 fuel cell systems for 27 Coradia iLint trains to be delivered to the greater Frankfurt area.
The hydrogen cell systems used in the trains are assembled at the Cummins Hydrogen Cell Systems Manufacturing Center in Herten, Germany. The facility opened earlier this year and will enable faster adoption of hydrogen technologies in Europe and globally.
Cummins has a long history of advanced technologies and engineering capabilities, working across a broad portfolio of market-leading renewable hydrogen technologies. In addition to the first hydrogen-powered passenger trains with Alstom, Cummins has also been involved in many other global hydrogen firsts. These include the operation of the world’s largest 00 MW PEM electrolyser 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 fueling station for ships, cars, trucks and industrial customers in Antwerp, Belgium.
About Cummins Inc.
Cummins Inc. is a global leader with complementary business units that design, manufacture, sell and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The Company’s products range from integrated combustion, electric and hybrid powertrain solutions to components such as filtration, exhaust aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, control systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana (USA), Cummins has employed approximately 59,900 people since its founding in 1919 to work for a better world. It does this by prioritizing corporate responsibility with three global concerns, that are critical to healthy communities: education, the environment and equal opportunity. Cummins serves customers online through a network of company-owned and independent distributor locations, as well as thousands of dealer locations worldwide. In 2021, profit was around $24 billion on sales of $2.1 billion.
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