Tata Motors Ltd. has started the first-ever trials of heavy-duty hydrogen trucks to break away from the diesel-guzzling ways of road transport in India.
On Tuesday, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari along with Tata Motors CV's Executive Director Girish Wagh flagged off 16 hydrogen trucks for real-world and on-road trials over the next two years. They will ply on some of India's busiest freight routes, including Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat and Delhi-NCR, as well as Jamshedpur and Kalinganagar.
“Hydrogen is the fuel of the future with immense potential to transform the transportation sector by reducing emissions and enhancing energy self-reliance,” Gadkari was quoted as saying in a statement. “Such initiatives will accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility in heavy-duty trucking, and move us closer to an efficient, low-carbon future.”
Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, Tata Motors had won a tender from the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy to start trials of hydrogen trucks. These are powered by an internal-combustion engine as well as fuel cells with an operational range of 300-500 km. The vehicles get advanced driver-assist safety features that will keep the drivers in relative comfort during the trial period.
The company already has 15 hydrogen-powered buses on the road.
“As a company with a long-standing commitment to nation-building, we have continuously embraced innovation to develop mobility solutions that contribute to India's growth and development,” Tata Motors' Wagh said in the statement.
“Today, with the commencement of these hydrogen truck trials, we are proud to further this legacy for clean, long-haul transportation.”
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