The Hympulso project, led by Talgo, receives European backing for a high-speed hydrogen train.

A dozen companies, led by Talgo, are joining forces in the PERTE (Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation) of renewable energies, green hydrogen and storage to adapt green hydrogen propulsion technology to a high-speed train. The project, christened Hympulso, is a world first, as it has not been possible to use this fuel in a high-speed train until now.

The initiative consists of developing a powertrain based on a renewable hydrogen fuel cell and installing it in a new power car to be built for a Talgo 250 train. If this can be successfully achieved, it would make it possible to use this system without the need for power lines.

Talgo 250 trains have two power cars each which, at present, are used to generate electricity to power the traction heads which currently use diesel on sections without catenary. As part of this project, one of these diesel power cars will be replaced by another equipped with fuel cells and batteries, which will be responsible for supplying electricity to the locomotives using 100% renewable hydrogen.

Talgo will team up with Repsol, Sener, Ingeteam, Golendus, Optimus3D and ePowerlabs as main partners and Tecnalia and Comillas Pontifical University as collaborators, while Adif will have an observer role. All partners intend to evolve their enabling technologies and expertise in the field of renewable hydrogen with Hympulso.

Source: Crónica Vasca