India Tests Long-Haul Hydrogen Bussing

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February 24, 2021

ESG Review Staff

India’s Tata Motors unveiled its hydrogen fuel cell bus in 2018. These short-range, inner-city buses have led the way for testing the use of hydrogen on bus routes greater than 100 miles (160 km).

India’s largest energy conglomerate, National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd. (NTPC) will begin a premium hydrogen fuel bus service between Delhi and Jaipur.

This new service will be a pilot project to test the viability of fuel cell buses for the 165-mile (265-km) commute. It will also help to analyze the affordability quotient of fuel cell buses against the conventional, internal combustion engine bus service.

“We are planning to start a premium hydrogen fuel bus service from Delhi to Jaipur and gradually we’ll also try experimenting running electric buses on the same route,” said Raj Kumar Singh, power minister of India. “The government plans to invite bids for green hydrogen projects in the next four to five months. We’ve already had discussions with the relevant ministries.”

As NTPC lays its groundwork for long-haul hydrogen bussing, the Indian state of Kerala is preparing to test two hydrogen buses traveling between the Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram sectors by mid-2021 on a pilot basis, a distance of about 125 miles (201 km). The zero-polluting buses are awaiting approval from the Automotive Research Association of India.