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| Fuel cells produce electric energy by a cold "combustion"; of hydrogen. Similar to batteries, they are conversion devices rather than genuine energy sources.
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Technology field: Innovative traction concepts and energy sources
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General information
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General criteria
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Environmental criteria
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Economic criteria
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Application outside railway sector
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Overall rating
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Overall potential: interesting |
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Time horizon: long-term |
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Fuel cells are an interesting long-term option for replacing diesel traction. A big advantage is seen in its independence from a particular primary energy source. However, technological, economic and environmental barriers will have to be resolved before a diffusion into railways becomes an option. Technological progress is undoubted but comes at a much slower pace than expected some years ago. Economic feasibility is low as long as small production numbers impede any substantial scale effects. The environmental performance is almost entirely dependent on the fuel chain. The introduction of fuel cells only brings the expected ecological quantum leap if hydrogen is produced using energy from renewables. As long as this option remains unrealistic, fossil sources have to be considered. The only option which may be as good as or even slightly better than diesel-electric propulsion is hydrogen production from natural gas reforming. Despite many limitations and uncertainties, fuel cells remain a very interesting option worthy of further R&D efforts. However, these will come mainly from companies producing for mass markets. |
 date created: 2002-10-09 |
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| © UIC - International Union of Railways 2003 |
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