The Government of India has launched five pilot projects to deploy hydrogen-fuelled buses and trucks as part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM). The initiative includes 37 vehicles: 15 hydrogen fuel cell-based and 22 hydrogen internal combustion engine-based operating on 10 routes across the country, namely Greater Noida – Delhi – Agra, Bhubaneshwar – Konark – Puri, Ahmedabad – Vadodara – Surat, Sahibabad – Faridabad – Delhi, Pune – Mumbai, Jamshedpur – Kalinga Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram – Kochi, Kochi – Edappally, Jamnagar – Ahmedabad, and NH-16 Visakhapatnam – Bayyavaram.
The Government has allocated financial support of Rs 2.08 billion for these projects, which are expected to be commissioned within 18 to 24 months. These pilots aim to validate the technical feasibility, safety, and economic viability of hydrogen-powered vehicles and their refuelling infrastructure under real-world conditions. Moreover, they will assess the effectiveness of hydrogen as a transport fuel. Furthermore, they will also establish a foundation for the scale-up of hydrogen-powered mobility in India by demonstrating safe and efficient operations
Additionally, nine hydrogen refuelling stations will be set up to support these trials. Earlier in February 2024, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy had issued guidelines for pilot projects in the transport sector, inviting proposals for hydrogen-based vehicles, routes, and refuelling infrastructure. Following a detailed review, projects were sanctioned and awarded to major companies involved in India’s automotive and energy sectors like TATA Motors Limited, Reliance Industries Limited, NTPC, Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology, Ashok Leyland, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Indian Oil Corporation Limited.
