Each week, we spotlight a cool innovation recommended by some of the industry's top tech writers. This week's pick is a train that runs on hydrogen.
Germany is rolling out the world's first hydrogen-powered train, said Agence France-Press. The move signifies the beginning of a bid "to challenge the might of polluting diesel trains with costlier but more eco-friendly technology." Two Coradia iLint trains are now traversing a 62-mile route in northern Germany. The trains have fuel cells "that produce electricity through a combination of hydrogen and oxygen, a process that leaves steam and water as the only emissions." Leftover energy is housed in lithium-ion batteries to power the train later.
The bright-blue trains can run for about 620 miles on a single tank of hydrogen, which mirrors the range of diesel trains. The company is betting that the technology will be a "greener, quieter alternative to diesel on non-electrified railway lines." The maker promises the trains will not only reduce pollution but also be cheaper to run than diesel.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
September 13 editorial cartoonsCartoons Saturday's political cartoons include court-approved racial profiling and America's moral compass
-
Giorgio Armani obituary: designer revolutionised the business of fashionIn the Spotlight ‘King Giorgio’ came from humble beginnings to become a titan of the fashion industry and redefine 20th century clothing
-
Crossword: September 13, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
