The test of Japan’s first hydrogen hybrid train, called “Hibari,” was shown to media on the JR Tsurumi Line in Kanagawa Prefecture on February 28, Asahi Shimbun reported on February 29.
The train, which runs on electricity generated from hydrogen, is part of East Japan Railway (JR East)’s initiative to decarbonize railways, with the goal of commercializing the technology in fiscal 2030.
Hybari is equipped with batteries and a fuel cell that generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen.
It works without emitting carbon dioxide.
The hybrid train was jointly developed with Toyota Motor Corporation, which sells Mirai fuel cell vehicles, and Hitachi, which also offers battery packs.
JR East has been test driving Hybari since March 2022.
On February 28, a test between Tsurumi and Ogimachi stations was shown to the media.
Instead of electricity-consuming pantographs, a hydrogen tank with a total capacity of around 1,000 liters is installed on the roof of the two-car Hibari train.
A monitor inside the car shows as the train moves in real time whether the motors and lights are powered by the fuel cell or the battery, depending on acceleration and deceleration.
According to JR East, 23 of the 66 conventional railway lines under its jurisdiction are not electrified and do not have power lines.
JR East operates diesel trains on these lines, which run primarily on light fuel. Hibari is expected to replace them.
One task remains: to increase the range of trains several times, which is currently limited to 140 kilometers.
In the field of decarbonizing railway carriages, Central Japan Railway (JR Tokai) is working to develop carriages that use hydrogen engines instead of diesel engines.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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