(13/10/2011)  Feve’s commitment to alternative energies applied to the railway was demonstrated a few days ago when the state-owned enterprise presented its most highly developed product: the hydrogen-powered tram. In collaboration with its subsidiary Fenit Rail and the Cidaut Foundation, the company has invested one million Euros to restore one of its old trains, a 3400 class electric unit, to active service by using hydrogen gas.

The veteran train has been overhauled by Fenit Rail and equipped with the technologies developed by Cidaut to supply its engines with the power generated by a set of hydrogen batteries, without overhead cable or internal combustion engines.

The project, carried out over a two-year period, has relied on the financial support of the regional government of the Principality of Asturias, and the vehicle is expected to start transporting passengers in 2012 on certain sections of the Feve network.

As part of its ongoing commitment to alternative energies, Feve is currently developing the prototype of a solar-powered trin in collaboration with the University of León.