India to deploy 70 hydrogen trucks and buses in $43m pilot programme | Hydrogen News

Up to 70 hydrogen vehicles could be deployed across India after the country’s Ministry of Renewable Energy (MNRE) awarded $43m in funding to 21 pilot projects.

Aiming to assess the technical and economic viability of hydrogen-fuelled transport, the programme will deploy 27 buses and 43 trucks across 12 consortium-led projects spanning 21 freight corridors and public transport routes.

The pilots will test both hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) technologies, with 39 fuel cell vehicles (25 buses and 14 trucks) and 31 hydrogen ICE vehicles (two buses and 29 trucks) expected to be deployed.

The 12 pilot projects involve a mix of vehicle manufacturers, oil and gas companies, utilities, state agencies, and hydrogen technology providers, including NTPC, NHPC, Indian Oil Corporation, KPI Green Energy, Waree Group and Indify Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies.

Vehicle manufacturers featured include Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, and Volvo, and routes will be operated across at least 10 states and the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. These are generally intercity and long-haul freight corridors, with a particular concentration in Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and the Delhi NCT.

Agencies operating the vehicles will be required to provide feedback on performance, efficiency, fuel consumption, safety and utilisation.

India has been increasing its prominence in hydrogen with its National Green Hydrogen Mission, which targets an annual output of five million tonnes.

Earlier this month, Indian Railways entered into service the country’s first hydrogen train, a 2,600-passenger, 10-coach, fuel cell-powered vehicle operating an 89km route between Jind and Sonipat.

In May, public transport operator Delhi Metro Rail Corporation deployed two fuel cell-powered buses for operation in the country’s capital city.