Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer Tata Motors has commenced trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks, designed for long haul transportation, in India.
The move forms part of Tata Motors’ efforts to spearheading sustainable mobility solutions and aligns with India’s ambitious goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
Tata Motors has been awarded a tender for this trial phase, backed by the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
The trials aim to assess the viability of using hydrogen-powered vehicles for long distance haulage and the establishment of necessary infrastructure.
Expected to last up to two years, the trials will see the deployment of 16 advanced hydrogen-powered vehicles with diverse configurations and payload capacities across major freight routes in India.
India Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said: “Hydrogen is an important fuel for India’s transition to a sustainable and zero-carbon future. The beginning of this trial is a significant step forward in showcasing the potential of green hydrogen in decarbonising India’s transportation sector.
“This initiative, part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, reflects our commitment to driving innovation and achieving India’s energy independence while contributing to global climate goals. I applaud Tata Motors for taking the lead in this pioneering effort.”
The vehicles being tested include two Tata Prima H.55S prime movers, one with a Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) and the other with a Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) technology, as well as the Tata Prima H.28, an advanced H2-ICE truck.
The trucks are planned to be assessed on freight routes, including those around the Indian cities of Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Vadodara, Delhi-NCR, Jamshedpur, and Kalinganagar.
These trucks are designed to provide sustainable, cost-efficient, and high-performance transportation with an operational range of 300-500km.
Enhancing driver comfort and safety, the trucks feature the “premium Prima cabin” and “advanced driver-assist safety features”.
This is expected to reduce fatigue and improve productivity while setting new safety benchmarks in the trucking industry.
Last month, Tata Motors inaugurated a vehicle scrapping facility (RVSF) in Guwahati, Assam, a state in India.
The facility, named ‘Re.Wi.Re – Recycle with Respect,’ is capable of dismantling up to 15,000 end-of-life vehicles annually using eco-friendly processes.
“Tata Motors begins hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks trials in India” was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand.
