India’s hydrogen train engine with 1,200 horsepower has become the world’s most powerful engine. Trials will start soon in Haryana State of India with potential for trucks and tugboats. For the first trial on Jind-Sonipat route; system integration has been ongoing.
Union Railway Minister of India, Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that Indian Railways has developed a hydrogen-powered train engine with the highest horsepower in the world. Speaking at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention during a session titled ‘Green Connections: Diaspora’s Contribution to Sustainable Development,’ Vaishnaw highlighted the engine’s impressive 1,200 horsepower output, significantly surpassing the 500-600 horsepower of similar engines made by the only four other countries producing such technology.
A proven alternative to diesel combustion engines, Hydrogen fuel–powered trains offer:
Ability to turn existing non-electrified railway lines into zero-emission lines without costly long-range electrification infrastructure
18+ hours of operation between fueling.
Reduced noise and vibration.
He revealed that the first trial run for this engine is planned on the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana. While the engine’s manufacturing is complete, the system integration process is currently underway. He emphasized that India’s indigenous technology not only supports the production of hydrogen-powered trains but also paves the way for adapting this innovation to develop power trains for trucks, tugboats, and other applications.
He added that these advancements reflect India’s growing confidence in achieving technological self-reliance. However, he acknowledged the need to develop more components of the value chain domestically to achieve complete technological independence.
Here, Zero-emissions Mobility is already a reality!
Hydrogen is gaining traction as a source of fuel for local transit networks across the globe. Looking beyond the cost benefits, hydrogen-powered vehicles offer a host of additional advantages over battery electric buses, including range, speed of fueling, elimination of heavy batteries and more stable performance in fluctuating temperatures.
Hydrogen and fuel-cell technology are also gaining traction across a growing number of more specialized applications including trains and forklift trucks. Here too, customers are benefitting from best-in-class engineering skills for high-capacity, high-complexity refueling solutions.
Why Hydrogen…. Decarbonization journey gathers momentum
In the race to decarbonize public transport and mobility in general, hydrogen is emerging as an increasingly promising option – for a variety of reasons. Hydrogen-powered mobility combines zero tailpipe emissions with long ranges, rapid and quiet refueling, robustness to climatic variations, ease of scalability, sourcing flexibility and freedom from the constraints of grid electricity.
Indigenous Development:
It was emphasized that the engine was developed entirely with indigenous talent, showcasing India’s capability to innovate in clean energy solutions. This achievement inspires India to be a leader among major economies using green energy for growth.
Key Features of India’s Hydrogen Train Engine:
- Power Output: 1,200 horsepower, surpassing global counterparts.
- Technology: Fully developed using local expertise.
- Trial Route: Jind-Sonipat in Haryana.
- Green Milestone: Marks India’s transition to hydrogen-powered transportation.
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