CSR Sifang demonstrates first fuel-cell powered fixed rail electric tram; Ballard module
07 April 2015
CSR Qingdao Sifang Company (CSR Sifang), a Chinese rolling stock manufacturer based in Qingdao, Shandong province, has successfully demonstrated the first hydrogen fuel cell powered fixed rail electric tram. Ballard Power Systems’ FCvelocity fuel cell module is integrated into the low floor tram design.
Clean urban transportation is a high priority in China and this zero-emission prototype fuel cell tram is an important step in demonstrating one solution.
— Randy MacEwen, Ballard’s President and CEO
The event was attended by senior officials of the City of Foshan, a tram customer of CSR Sifang, and invited guests took a ride on the prototype fuel cell powered tram.
Additional testing of the fuel cell-powered tram is being completed at CSR Sifang's facility in Qingdao.
Established in 1900, CSR Sifang has a yearly production capacity of 200 high-speed electric multiple units (EMUs), 1,000 mass transit vehicles and 300 high-grade passenger cars.
'The report added that refilling the tram with hydrogen only takes about three minutes, but it can run the distance of 100 kilometers at the maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour.
“The average distance of tramcar lines in China is about 15 km, which means one refill for our tram is enough for three round trips,” Liang added.
The chief engineer said that they are studying ways on how to further reduce the overall running costs of the tram, but also highlighted the advantages of the hydrogen-powered tram as a safe and environment-friendly form of transportation.
Liang made an assurance that the new tram will not produce nitrogen oxides since the temperature of the reaction inside the fuel cell will be placed under control at 100 degrees Celsius. He added that the tram will only emit water.
The report said that each tram has over 60 seats that can carry at least 380 passengers.'
http://fuelcellsworks.com/news/2015/03/23/csr-unveils-hydrogen-fuel-cell-tram/
Posted by: Davemart | 07 April 2015 at 09:36 AM
Will the 100 KW FC be powerful enough to move the tram at 70 kph with 380 passengers on board. Are they using more than one FC unit per tram car or larger FCs?
Will each tram car be motorized and equipped with an FC unit like Bud Cars used to be?
Posted by: HarveyD | 07 April 2015 at 11:56 AM
Where are you getting the 100kw from, Harvey?
I can see nothing about it either here or in the article I linked.
Posted by: Davemart | 07 April 2015 at 12:21 PM
I assumed that Ballard used their 100 KW 6th generation FCs (75 KW to 150 KW) developed for FC buses.
Posted by: HarveyD | 07 April 2015 at 02:01 PM
@Harvey:
Fuel cell stacks are inherently modular.
It could be anything.
Posted by: Davemart | 07 April 2015 at 02:12 PM
Why not, but is it available?
Posted by: HarveyD | 08 April 2015 at 08:01 AM