New hydrogen-powered tram off assembly line

A hybrid tram powered by hydrogen cells and supercapacitors rolled off the assembly line in North China's Hebei province, April 27, 2016. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

SHIJIAZHUANG - A hybrid tram powered by hydrogen cells and supercapacitors rolled off the assembly line Wednesday in North China's Hebei province.

According to Tangshan Railway Vehicle Co Ltd (TRC), the tram's major developer, the hybrid tram can operate for longer than existing trams and there is no need for an overhead line. Moreover, it has no emissions.

It took the State-owned company and Southwest Jiaotong University four years to develop the pollution-free tram, which can carry 336 passengers. A 15-minute hydrogen refill can power the vehicle for 40 kilometers at speeds as high as 70 km per hour, according to TRC.

Water, which controls the reaction temperature inside the fuel cell so no nitrogen oxide is produced, will be the only discharge from the tram.

It has been heralded as the first tram in the world to use a hybrid power system featuring hydrogen fuel cells and supercapacitors.

Hydrogen fuel cells are a clean energy source, widely used in the automobile industry.

China in 2015 was the first country to utilize hydrogen-powered tram technology with China South Rail Corp's (CSR) hydrogen-powered tramcar.