India has launched pilot trials for hydrogen-powered buses and trucks under the country’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, an initiative aimed at scaling up clean energy in transport. The programme will deploy 37 vehicles across 10 key routes over the next 18 months to two years and includes nine hydrogen refuelling stations.
The trials involve 15 hydrogen fuel cell and 22 hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicles, operating on major corridors such as Delhi–Agra, Pune–Mumbai, and Ahmedabad–Surat. Companies including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Reliance Industries, and Indian Oil Corporation are taking part, with government funding of $25m.
“The beginning of this trial is a significant step forward in showcasing the potential of green hydrogen in decarbonising India’s transportation sector,” said Shri Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy.
As part of these efforts, automotive giant Tata Motors has launched India’s first hydrogen truck trials, deploying 16 heavy-duty vehicles with a range up to 500 km. The project aims to test feasibility, performance, and cost-effectiveness while supporting India’s push to decarbonise road freight, which accounts for 12% of the country’s energy-related CO2 emissions, according to the International Energy Agency.
Launched in January 2023 with a $2.37bn budget, the National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to reduce fossil fuel dependence and scale up domestic hydrogen production to five million metric tonnes annually by 2030.
