The future of sustainable transit: Hydrogen-powered trams and PEMFCS

The transportation sector is a strong contributor to energy consumption and carbon emissions in the world, widely because of its majority reliance on fossil fuels. These problems have caused a expanding requirement for alternative, cleaner energy solutions. This study analyzes the viability of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) as a type of hydrogen fuel cells, and a solution for sustainable energy source for urban transportation, with a focal point on trams. Through simulations using Matlab Simulink, the study modeled the dynamic behavior of three PEMFC models and compared their efficiency, energy coverage, and lastly cost-effectiveness for a hydrogen-powered tram in Istanbul. The results reveal that although 50 kW PEMFC has the highest energy coverage ratio, 1.26 kW PEMFC has the best balance between cost and performance. This study highlights the potential of hydrogen fuel cell technology to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in tram transportation systems, positioning hydrogen as an encouraging alternative to fossil fuels. This study also lends to a detailed analysis of how hydrogen fuel cells perform regarding cost-effectiveness and environmental impact compared to battery-electric and hybrid systems.