Toyota, Hitachi, JR East to jointly develop hydrogen-powered trains

In terms of net energy efficiency running trains on hydrogen is exceptionally inefficient. It's only benefit is that the train doesn't emit CO2 or any other harmful pollutants. Now the problem becomes how to generate the electricity required to produce by a clean process. 

While inefficient by some measures, I think (hope) the idea is to produce the hydrogen from excess electricity produced by renewable sources (wind, solar). One problem with the current state of renewables is that we need to keep a backup of conventional sources for times when the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining. And then there are times when we need to switch off those renewables as they are producing too much. Hydrogen production seems a way to use any excess electricity from renewables rather than switching them off.

Although majority of the trains are electric, the source of electricity is coal. Especially after Fukushima meltdown. I think Hydrogen fuel cells sounds promising but problem is their stability. Hopefully the have done enough research to make it safe and stable

It requires a great deal of power to separate hydrogen from water or from the air to make a hydrogen fuel. In terms of net energy efficiency running trains on hydrogen is exceptionally inefficient. It's only benefit is that the train doesn't emit CO2 or any other harmful pollutants. Now the problem becomes how to generate the electricity required to produce by a clean process. Using a coal fired power plant to produce the electricity used to produce hydrogen for a hydrogen powered train doesn't seem like a way to reduce pollution overall.

Although majority of the trains are electric, the source of electricity is coal. Especially after Fukushima meltdown. I think Hydrogen fuel cells sounds promising but problem is their stability. Hopefully the have done enough research to make it safe and stable.

In addition to garymalmgren's points about regional lines, I guess there is also a potential export market. Note that a hydrogen-powered train developed by French company Alstom is already running in Germany. They plan to roll out a lot more next year.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/17/germany-launches-worlds-first-hydrogen-powered-train

Hi ifd

Yes, in general Japan's trains run on electrified lines.

However there are many regional trains that have no overhead wires and run on a diesel / electric system.

These trains have a diesel engine under the body that runs a generator that then runs the electric motors at the wheels. These are lighter and usually run or shorter routes.

The fuel cell trains would be to replace these (diesel / electric) trains.

A very interesting engineering development.

Gary

Don't Japanese trains run on electricity?

Just get this electricity made from clean renewable sources as it should be. This would be far simpler and much more efficient that using it to create hydrogen.

Save the hydrogen for aircraft or boats that are more difficult to move over to electric.