Alstom, a leader in smart and sustainable mobility solutions, announced today that its Coradia iLint, the pioneering hydrogen-powered train operational in the Americas, has been named a finalist in Fast Company’s 2024 World Changing Ideas awards. This accolade underscores projects that significantly contribute to global progress.
Michael Keroullé, President Alstom Americas, expressed pride in the recognition, stating that it reflects the green energy innovation taking place across the Americas and the expertise of Alstom’s team. Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company, noted the global impact of the honorees and the importance of finding inventive solutions to global challenges.
The Coradia iLint stands out as the inaugural hydrogen-powered train servicing fare-paying passengers in the Americas. It successfully conducted over 10,000 passenger trips during a demonstration in Quebec from mid-June through September 2023. This project was supported by Alstom’s Green Innovation Centre and a collaboration with Train de Charlevoix, Accelera by Cummins, HTEC, Harnois Energies, several institutional entities, the Government of Quebec, and the Hydrogen Research Institute at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.
Powered by hydrogen fuel cells, the train emits only water vapor and generates electricity from green hydrogen derived from renewable sources. The Coradia iLint promotes eco-friendly rail travel, maintaining high performance and passenger comfort. During its four-month operation, the Coradia iLint conserved 8,400 liters of diesel fuel and reduced CO2 emissions by 22 tons compared to a traditional diesel train over the same period and route within the Charlevoix UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Alstom and its project partners hosted thirty-four delegations from various commercial, governmental, and regulatory bodies across North America, demonstrating the hydrogen propulsion technology and paving the way for broader adoption of sustainable transportation solutions. Notably, the Coradia iLint was the world’s first hydrogen-powered train in passenger service and has accumulated over 2.8 million kilometers on hydrogen to date.
In March 2024, Alstom was recognized as one of Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies. Additionally, the Coradia iLint project in the Americas received the CUTA 2023 Environmental Sustainability Award and the 2023 Hydrogen Mobility Award from the Canadian Hydrogen Convention.
