India rolls out pilot projects for hydrogen-powered buses and trucks

India has taken a significant step toward clean energy adoption with the launch of five pilot projects for hydrogen-fueled buses and trucks under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The initiative aims to assess the viability of hydrogen as a transport fuel and pave the way for large-scale adoption.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) had earlier issued guidelines for implementing pilot projects in the transport sector, inviting proposals for hydrogen-based vehicles, refueling stations, and operational routes. After thorough evaluation, the ministry approved five pilot projects, comprising 37 vehicles—15 hydrogen fuel cell-based and 22 hydrogen internal combustion engine-based—along with nine hydrogen refueling stations.

These vehicles will operate on ten routes across the country, including Greater Noida–Delhi–Agra, Bhubaneshwar–Konark–Puri, Ahmedabad–Vadodara–Surat, among others. The projects have been awarded to leading industry players such as Tata Motors, Reliance Industries, NTPC, Ashok Leyland, HPCL, BPCL, and IOCL.

The central government has allocated ₹208 crore in financial support for these projects, which are expected to be commissioned within the next 18 to 24 months. The initiative aims to develop commercially viable hydrogen-powered transport solutions and establish the necessary infrastructure, including refueling stations.

The pilot projects will serve as a crucial testing ground to assess the safety, technical feasibility, and economic viability of hydrogen-powered vehicles under real-world conditions. The insights gained will help scale up hydrogen technology in India’s transport sector and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission was launched on January 4, 2023, with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore until 2029-30. It aims to contribute to India’s goal of becoming ‘Aatmanirbhar’ (self-reliant) through clean energy and serve as an inspiration for the global clean energy transition.