《中英對照讀新聞》Germany is set to host the world’s first zero-emission, hydrogen passenger train 德國將成為全球第一個運轉零碳排放氫動力載客火車的國家

◎蔡子岳

The hydrogen, or hydrail, train is set to run in Lower Saxony starting in December 2017.

氫動力火車，或稱「hydrail」，2017年12月將在德國西北部的下薩克森邦上路。

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The train - called the "Coradia iLint" - has been developed over the past two years by French company Alstom.

這種火車稱為「柯納狄亞」，由法國「阿斯頓」公司耗時2年開發。

The hydrogen train operates using a hydrogen fuel tank, stored on the roof of the train, that in turn powers a fuel cell to produce electrical energy. This technology provides a new environmentally friendly alternative to the diesel trains that are still used across much of Germany.

這種氫動力火車的動力來自位於車頂的氫氣箱，可驅動燃料電池產生電力。這項技術為德國許多地區仍在使用的柴油火車提供新的環保替代選擇。

Engineers have been developing ‘hydrail’ technology for the last 15 years, but mostly with freight trains.

工程師研發氫動力火車技術已有15年之久，但主要用途多限於貨運。

The new Alstom train will be the first hydrogen passenger train to regularly operate on long-distance journeys.

阿斯頓公司的新火車將是第一種固定長途行駛的氫動力客運火車。

With a full tank, the new locomotive will be able to travel 600 to 800 kilometers.

一旦氫氣箱滿載，這種新式火車頭將可行駛600至800公里。

Because of its much larger fuel capacity, the train does not have to confront the same problems that hydro-cars face with refueling. Another advantage is its quietness： even at its top speed of 140 km/h, the only noise is that produced by the motion of the wheels and air resistance.

由於具備更大燃料儲載，氫動力火車可免於以往氫氣車輛必須經常充電的老問題。另外一個優點則是安靜：即便是以每小時140公里的極速行駛，也只有車輪運動與空氣阻力產生的噪音。

新聞辭典

roof：名詞，屋頂。例句：If your thoughts are as tall as the height of your ceiling, you can’t fly above your room.（若你的思考高度只相當於屋頂，你就不可能飛得比房子更高。）

alternative：名詞，可供選擇的方式。例句：One should always look for a possible alternative, and provide against it.（你必須尋找各種可能的解釋，然後設法推翻它。）

resistance：名詞，抗力。例句：The history of liberty is a history of resistance.（自由的歷史就是一部抵抗的歷史。）