China's first self-developed hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotive, developed by CRRC Datong Co based in Datong city, is put into operation on Oct 29 in Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/Datong Daily]

China's first self-developed hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotive, developed by CRRC Datong Co based in Datong city in North China's Shanxi province, was officially put into operation on Oct 29 at the Daban East Station of Jinzhou-Baiyinhua Railway in Inner Mongolia autonomous region. 

This indicates that China's rail transit equipment has moved on from product development to practical application in the field of new energy. 

A train using a hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid can run for 24.5 hours at 80 kilometers per hour, carrying a maximum load of 5,000 metric tons. 

Without changing any basic railway lines, the locomotive can perform tasks such as operation, shunting, and rescue in marshalling yards, large factories, mines, and ports. 

China's first self-developed hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotive is put into operation on Oct 29 in Inner Mongolia autonomous region. [Photo/Datong Daily]

The Jinzhou-Baiyinhua Railway stretches 627 km in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. It is an important channel for coal transportation from Inner Mongolia to the east. 

The hydrogen locomotive will be used for shunting, pickup and delivery for rail transportation. It only emit water during operation, helping to protect the environment. 

Compared with diesel locomotives, the hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotive reduce carbon emissions by about 80 kilograms per 10,000 ton-km. 

Once all trains running on the Jinzhou-Baiyinhua Railway adopt the hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotives, carbon emissions are expected to be reduced by around 96,000 tons per year, equivalent to planting more than 6 million trees, which will help the country achieve its goals of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.