06-15-2017, 02:16 PM
Efficiency is the problem. The fuel cell vehicles might be roughly twice as energy efficient as gasoline-powered vehicles (% output energy/input energy) but the efficiency losses in electrical power generation and electrolysis wipe out those gains. And even then the fuel cell systems only have 60-70% efficiency today, compared to 80-90% for the ubiquitous Li-ion batteries -- which don't need the electrolyte production.
On the other hand, the hydrogen tank is relatively compact so more power can be stored in the same volume. This could possibly make a fuel cell train viable whereas a battery-powered one would not be. And the cost of such locomotives might be significantly less than running a catenary (and other associated bits) for the entire length of the GO network. I don't know this, but at least it sounds conceivable. Alstom has fuel cell locomotives at trial stage right now.
On the other hand, the hydrogen tank is relatively compact so more power can be stored in the same volume. This could possibly make a fuel cell train viable whereas a battery-powered one would not be. And the cost of such locomotives might be significantly less than running a catenary (and other associated bits) for the entire length of the GO network. I don't know this, but at least it sounds conceivable. Alstom has fuel cell locomotives at trial stage right now.