Wire-led electric trains are clean, but can't travel beyond the grid into unsound topography. Therefore most long-distance trains are powered by giant diesel powerplants, which throw up clouds of smog into the atmosphere.

But not this guy. Built by Bombardier, a Canadian locomotive company, this train is actually a hybrid, producing "roughly 20% less CO2 than non-hybrid versions" according to EcoGeek. Its inaugural trip from Paris to Champagne province took only 2 hours. With a maximum speed of 100 mph, the train can switch from diesel to electric drive seamlessly, without stopping.

Although Bombardier hybrid train was immediately hailed as "world's first," it isn't the first time hybrid technology has been used to power a rail-based vehicle. In fact, Japan Rail has already built a version of their own.