The Chemnitz-based company HÖRMANN Vehicle Engineering is developing a unique innovation together with the Leipzig-based company HeiterBlick GmbH and the Chemnitz-based company Flexiva Automation & Robotik: Europe’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered tram.
The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) gave the go-ahead for the project with the approval of the funding award. The project is being funded by the BMVI as part of the National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP 2) with a total of 2.1 million euros. The funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by the project management agency Jülich (PtJ).
The prototype of the hydrogen fuel cell-powered tram will be presented by Heiterblick over the next four years. The innovative drive makes it possible for urban tram companies to open up new routes – where overhead lines are difficult or impossible to implement for ecological, urban planning or traffic reasons. New districts and outskirts can thus be developed much more easily.
Hydrogen trains should soon be on the rails
“Every major city will be forced to find new mobility solutions over the next few years due to the climate policy goals of the federal government. The current infrastructure will quickly reach its capacity limits. Rapid provision of environmentally friendly public transport requires a rethink,” explains Volkmar Vogel, Vice President Business Development at HÖRMANN Vehicle Engineering.
Transport companies are increasingly planning new tram networks without overhead lines. Among other things, the fact that there are no disruptive contact line masts and guy lines in the airspace speaks in favor of the discontinuation of the traction power supply. In addition, all of the traction current cables (outgoing and return lines) and the substations for the power supply are eliminated. In addition, no complex safety measures are required to protect users of urban space against accidents on the overhead lines.
Since “only” rails are required for the tram with fuel cell drive, the planning and use of public street space can be optimized. Lengthy approval procedures and interventions in the property of third parties are no longer necessary. “The project creates the conditions for getting the first application example of an innovative fuel cell tram on the rails in Europe in the near future,” emphasizes Frank Salzwedel, Managing Director of Hörmann Vehicle Engineering. He adds: “Through the construction and test operation of components of a hydrogen tram, test bench and later field data can be collected and evaluated, which should flow into subsequent series development.”
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