India has initiated trials for its first fleet of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks. The initiative aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), which has been allocated Rs 197.44 billion to position India as a leader in hydrogen production, storage, and application. As part of this effort, the Government of India has already awarded 412,000 tonnes per annum of green hydrogen production and approved 3,000 MW of electrolyser manufacturing capacity annually. Additionally, seven pilot projects covering transportation, shipping, steel, and storage have been launched, alongside the publication of 88 standards to ensure safety and scalability.
The first batch of three hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks will operate on the Faridabad–Delhi NCR and Ahmedabad–Surat–Vadodara routes. To facilitate this transition, Indian Oil Corporation Limited is setting up hydrogen refuelling stations in Faridabad, Vadodara, Pune, and Balasore.
Reportedly, by 2030, India aims to produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually, install 60,000–100,000 MW of electrolyser capacity, and add 125,000 MW of renewable energy capacity dedicated to hydrogen production. These measures are expected to reduce 50 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions per year, save Rs 10 trillion in imports, and attract investments worth Rs 8 trillion.
