Japanese rail research group successfully test fuel cell train

Last week, Japan's Railway Research Technical Institute (RTRI) officially announced that they completed successful running tests of what they say is the world's first fuel cell-powered train.

Their research and development began in 2001 as they aimed to develop a railway system that would reduce noise and gas emissions as well as eliminate the requirement for a power-feeding facility. In 2003, RTRI succeeded in testing a 30 kW-class fuel cell while their latest achievement was the successful test of a 100 kW-class system.

Over the next two years they plan to develop a fuel cell system for commercial railway operations.

[Source: Fuel Cell Works]

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