PESA has been working on its hydrogen locomotive since 2019. The first vehicle of this type produced in Bydgoszcz is the SM42-6Dn shunting locomotive, which has traction parameters similar to diesel locomotives, but is completely emission-free.
PESA’s hydrogen locomotive will hit the tracks
Now the SM42-6Dn will finally be able to go on the tracks, because PESA has received approval from UTK for practical use of the vehicle. The locomotive will now be able to be used in ports, sidings and local traffic on the railway network where there is no electric traction. PESA emphasizes that this is the first such case in the world, and the approval process itself was an extremely important step for both the company and the Office of Glue Transport. As emphasized by Ignacy Góra, President of UTK, this event is also important because currently neither Polish nor European regulations specify the requirements for hydrogen propulsion in railway vehicles. The Office hopes that thanks to this decision, there will be more hydrogen vehicles on the tracks, which will be an environmentally friendly change.
I would like to emphasize that for both PESA and UTK, the process of allowing this innovative locomotive to operate was a journey into the unknown. I would like to thank President Ignacy Góra and the entire UTK team for substantive cooperation and I assure you that there will be further similar approval applications, because we are already working on a passenger vehicle powered by electric traction and hydrogen cells
– said Krzysztof Zdziarski, President of PESA Bydgoszcz SA. As Lech Lipiński, responsible for the implementation of PESA’s hydrogen projects, emphasizes, “the locomotive fits perfectly into the needs of intermodal carriers or railway operators in, for example, green ports”.
PESA boasts that the hydrogen locomotive has parameters identical to its diesel counterparts. The energy source is hydrogen, and two hydrogen cells with a total power of 170 kW are responsible for the drive. The energy is then transferred via a traction battery to four asynchronous traction motors with a power of 180 kW each. The maximum speed of the locomotive is 90 km/h, and the hydrogen tanks with a capacity of 175 kg are sufficient for 24 hours of continuous operation. Interestingly, the machine has been equipped with an autonomous driving system, enabling the driver to control the vehicle by radio when setting up trains, and an obstacle recognition system, explains PESA.
The next step that PESA is currently working on is a hydrogen locomotive for passenger trains. Thanks to the presence of the pantograph, it will allow the use of energy from the network on electrified sections and hydrogen in places where the traction network is not available. The first prototype of such a vehicle is to be ready at the turn of 2026 and 2027
Source: Gazeta
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