India’s first green hydrogen fuel cell bus makes debut at IEW-Goa

India Energy Week (IEW), inaugurated in Goa on February 6, featured the debut of India’s premier green hydrogen fuel cell bus. These buses, hailed for their eco-friendliness, rely on green hydrogen as their power source, emitting only water vapor when in operation.

Unlike conventional engines that burn fossil fuels, hydrogen fuel cells convert fuel’s chemical energy into electrical energy via an electrochemical process, resulting in water as the sole exhaust product. This innovation presents a carbon-free, net zero emission solution for public transportation needs.

The maiden green hydrogen fuel bus, unveiled during the second edition of IEW, was initially introduced by Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in September of the preceding year. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), in partnership with Tata Motors, spearheaded the endeavor to develop these buses.

During the unveiling ceremony, Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized on India’s aspirations to become a global leader in hydrogen production and exports, positioning itself as a hub for green hydrogen initiatives.

Puri noted projections indicating a substantial surge in global hydrogen demand, estimated to rise four to sevenfold to 500-800 MT by 2050, with domestic demand expected to quadruple from the current 6 MT to 25-28 MT by the same year.

The green hydrogen fuel cell based bus was unveiled by IOCL in September 2023 that would run on trials in the national capital region (NCR).