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Vanguard has developed the HydroShunter, retrofitting a British Rail Class 08 with a hydrogen fuel-cell and battery series-hybrid drivetrain to perform multi-shift shunting operations without diesel. The project, in partnership with Severn Valley Railway, successfully addresses space and weight challenges by utilizing lead-acid batteries.

The series-hybrid design allows the locomotive to operate efficiently, maintaining performance while simplifying thermal management. This retrofit offers a cost-effective alternative for fleet renewal, providing similar capabilities to new locomotives while being applicable to other rail vehicles. The project also explores advanced hydrogen storage technologies in collaboration with the University of Nottingham.