1stinrail cuts fleet emissions by 15% using hydrogen-powered engine cleaning technology
1stinrail has reported a 15% reduction in fuel use and carbon emissions across part of its fleet after completing a four-month trial of hydrogen-powered engine cleaning technology aimed at reducing Scope 1 emissions from diesel vehicles operating on the London rail network.
The trial used Engine Carbon Clean (ECC) technology developed by Advanced Hydrogen Technology Group, which generates hydrogen on demand to remove carbon build-up inside combustion engines. The system works by feeding oxyhydrogen gas into the engine air intake, improving combustion efficiency and reducing emissions including CO₂, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxide.
The programme formed part of a wider collaboration between Advanced Hydrogen Technology Group and K2C Rail to introduce hydrogen-based engine cleaning solutions to rail operators and contractors that continue to rely on diesel-powered maintenance vehicles and road-rail equipment.
During the trial, 1stinrail applied the ECC process to 25 vehicles used for maintenance work across the Transport for London rail network, particularly the London Underground, where operational access windows are often limited to only a few hours overnight. The company said the technology exceeded initial expectations, delivering average fuel and CO₂ savings of 15% across four vehicle types operating from its Silvertown depot in East London.
Following the successful results, 1stinrail plans to extend the technology across its full fleet of around 140 vehicles, with wider deployment also being considered across the broader RSK Group, of which 1stinrail is a part.
The company said the initiative supports both its own environmental targets and wider decarbonisation objectives linked to Transport for London and the Mayor of London’s net zero ambitions. It also contributes towards RSK Group’s target of reducing absolute Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.
According to the project partners, the ECC system offers a practical near-term decarbonisation solution for sectors where diesel engines remain operationally necessary. In addition to lowering emissions and fuel consumption, the process is intended to restore engine efficiency, improve performance and extend asset lifespan without requiring intrusive modifications or compressed hydrogen storage.
The modular technology can reportedly be used across a wide range of combustion engines, from small generators and commercial vehicles to heavy plant machinery, locomotives and marine engines, using electrolysers powered by ordinary tap water to generate the hydrogen required for the cleaning process.
