In an attempt to reduce the smog that envelops China’s major cities, authorities have produced a hydrogen-powered tram.

Prototypes were designed and built at research institutions around the country, with the final version to be manufactured by the Sifang Company, a subsidiary of the China South Rail Corporation.

There are many benefits to the exciting new design.

On the environmental front, its only emission is water. The tram even features a temperature-control system that prevents it from getting hot enough to produce nitrogen oxides.

It also takes just three minutes to refuel and can run about 100km on a single tank, carrying up to 380 passengers. In Australia, Melbourne’s largest trams can carry just over 200 people.

“The average distance of tramcar lines in China is about 15km, which means one refill for our tram is enough for three round trips,” Liang Jianying, chief engineer of the Sifang Company, told Chinese media.

The hydro-tram is rolling off the production line in coastal city of Qingdao, and is expected to hit the streets soon.