CRRC Datong Develops and Produces First Hydrogen Locomotive in China

On October 29, 2021, the first hydrogen fuel cell hybrid-powered locomotive developed and produced by CRRC Datong was officially put into operation in Daban East Station of the Jinbai Railway in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, marking a major leap from product development to the application of rail transportation equipment with new energy resources in China.

The design speed of hydrogen fuel cell hybrid-powered locomotive reaches 80 kilometers per hour and can run continuously for 24.5 hours on a single engine with a full load of hydrogen. Without changing any railroad base line, the locomotive can perform operation, shunting, rescue and other multi-purpose tasks in various types of locomotive sections, vehicle sections, group stations and large factories, mines, ports and other places. Jinbai Railway is located in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia with a total line length of 627 kilometers, connecting Huobai, Xiwu and other railway lines respectively, and is an important transportation channel for importing coals in Inner Mongolia abroad. The newly operated hydrogen fuel cell locomotive will be used for shunting, pickup, delivery and other transportation purposes. It uses hydrogen as the input energy and only emits water, which realizes zero pollution, having more advantages in terms of environmental protection.

It is estimated that compared with internal combustion locomotives, hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotives reduce carbon emission by about 80 kg per 10,000 tons kilometers. After all Jinbai railroad main lines use this type of locomotive, it can reduce carbon emission by about 96,000 tons per year, which is equivalent to planting more than 6 million trees, making positive contribution to achieve the goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutralityas scheduled, and also creating a model of clean energy for global rail transportation equipment innovation.