The Tech Behind Hyundai’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Tram

Mobility Outlook Bureau
25 Jun 2023
09:43 AM
2 Min Read

Hyundai says its Rotem’s Hydrogen fuel cell tram can produce clean air at 107.6 kg for an hour of operation, which 170 adults can use for an hour.


Hyundai Rotem’s Hydrogen fuel cell tram
Hyundai Rotem’s Hydrogen fuel cell tram

Hyundai Rotem’s Hydrogen fuel cell tram under development uses a hybrid method that combines a hydrogen fuel cell with a battery. The hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity using hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen tank and saves secondary power in an energy storage system (ESS), namely, the battery.

The power saved in the battery is used when much energy is required, such as starting the engine or speeding up, while the energy from the fuel cell is used for running at constant speed or speeding down. Hyundai says it’sRotem’s Hydrogen fuel cell tram can travel a distance of about 150 km on a single charge.

These trams move using electric energy generated by hydrogen fuel cells loaded inside the trams, unlike the general existing trams. Hydrogen fuel cells that produce electricity directly through electrochemical reactions between hydrogen and oxygen are the core technology of hydrogen vehicles.

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Mechanism

The mechanism splits hydrogen supplied to the hydrogen pole into a hydrogen ion and an electron, sending the hydrogen ion to the oxygen pole through the electrolyte membrane and the electron to the oxygen pole through an external circuit.

During the process, the electron produces electric energy, while the hydrogen ion meets an oxygen ion at the oxygen pole, producing water and heat. Simply put, it is an electricity generator that generates electric energy using hydrogen.

Unlike general wire-type trams that build facilities such as electric wires to supply electric power to vehicles on the road and receive power through the vehicle’s pantograph, hydrogen fuel cell trams are economical because they generate their own power. In particular, in the case of cities, the construction of wiring facilities is not easy, so the utility of wireless hydrogen fuel cell trams is even higher.

Mechanism of Hyundai Rotem’s Hydrogen fuel cell tram
Mechanism of Hyundai Rotem’s Hydrogen fuel cell tram

Zero Carbon & Air Purification

Trams, powered by electricity, are considered eco-friendly transport producing no carbon. Hydrogen fuel cell trams, powered by electric energy produced by fuel cells, do not produce carbon and even purify the surrounding air while running, which is different from the existing trams.

The fuel cell installed in the hydrogen fuel cell trams collects outside oxygen to make electric energy. When the collected oxygen has impurities, it is purified through the filter and membrane humidifier for normal chemical reactions. Then, the used air is emitted as purified.

Consequently, the trams can purify fine or ultrafine dust while running. Hyundai says its Rotem’s Hydrogen fuel cell tram can produce clean air at 107.6 kg for an hour of operation, which 170 adults can use for an hour.

About 1,000 Hydrogen fuel cell trams can purify fine dust emitted from 4,000 diesel cars while running. It has the same carbon reduction effect as 20,000 trees.

Economics

Trains that move along the fixed tracks are economically feasible in operation. They require less energy than cars or airplanes due to the train system being designed to roll several carriages over metal rails.The driving condition of trains is a smaller frictional coefficient than cars (road-tyre) and a smaller running resistance as many cars run at the same time. 

High-efficiency propulsion control using electrical energy is also an advantage. Trams are the result of applying the advantages of the railway system to public roads. In addition, they do not require electricity or power rails, which is more economical in building the initial infrastructure than other urban railway systems such as subway and light rail.

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As per Hyundai, ESS trams are also wireless as hydrogen fuel cell trams and rather more economical in short-distance services. However, hydrogen fuel cell trams that are light and use less energy are more appropriate for long-distance services as the consumption rate of vehicles is important.

To minimise the economic feasibility, hydrogen fuel cell trams may be operated in complement with ESS trams in a section where short-distance and long-distance services are required. One tram can carry as many as three buses and 174 cars. The global demand for hydrogen fuel cell trams is expected to increase by technical advances in hydrogen fuel cells and the expanding tram market.

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