EU: Michael Peter, head of Siemens Mobility, has stated this position to the Rynek Kalejowy, Polish news agency.
At the same time, he believes hydrogen can enjoy great demand in the USA due to the low electrification level of the country’s railway network. Siemens Mobility’s backlog includes one hydrogen model, Mireo Plus H, and two battery-catenary models: Mireo Plus B and Mireo Smart Plus B. ROLLINGSTOCK gives Michael Peter’s full quote.
“In my opinion, batteries are the best solution in Europe. In Poland and Germany, about 60% of railways are electrified, and our battery-powered trains can cover up to 150 km without a catenary at the moment.
A common scenario is as follows: a train, powered by catenary, departs from a city, charges its batteries en route, and continues operating beyond the electrified section – in the same way as a hybrid car.
It is important to note, however, that the energy efficiency of batteries is four times higher than that of hydrogen. This is because hydrogen must first be produced using electricity, then converted back into electricity in a fuel cell — a process that results in approximately 75% energy loss.
Therefore, hydrogen will fundamentally remain a solution for very specific cases (in Europe – editor’s note), where electrification is absent. It is commendable that Europe is testing diverse approaches, but in practice, battery technology has proven to be more efficient.
As a rule, a train’s total lifecycle cost is divided roughly equally: one-third for acquisition, one-third for energy consumption, and one-third for maintenance. Should energy costs quadruple–as is the case with hydrogen–overall operational expenses would double, leading to significantly higher ticket prices.
In the United States, a mere 3% of the railway network is electrified, which could make hydrogen a more cost-effective solution – particularly for freight lines or remote regions. Siemens’ strategy focuses on developing the world’s most energy-efficient train, based on a lightweight aluminium platform. For this reason, we have integrated both battery and hydrogen modules, a flexible system that allows operators to tailor the propulsion system to their specific operational needs”.
