Germany has introduced the world’s first zero-emission passenger train at the end of 2017. It’s called the Coradia iLint, and it was designed and developed by the French transport company Alstom. The train will be powered by huge lithium-ion batteries which will get their energy from a hydrogen fuel tank on the roof of the train. The only waste resulting from this process will be excess steam released into the atmosphere, making it a much more sustainable alternative to the country’s 4,000 diesel trains that are currently in use.

The train will be able to cover a range of 800 kilometres at speeds of up to 140 km/h. Furthermore, it will be virtually silent except for the sound of its wheels. The first of the Coradia iLint are running in Lower Saxony, and that region has already ordered a further 14 of these trains from the French company. Should the project prove successful, the rest of the country will follow suit by investing in this new clean rail transport technology. Countries like Denmark, Norway and Holland will be following the project’s development closely with the prospect of introducing hydrogen-powered trains in the future.