Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Flags Off India's First Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus At Kartavya Path

The move is part of Indian Oil's efforts to conduct operational trials of 15 fuel cell buses powered by green hydrogen on designated routes in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh

Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri.

Source : PTI

Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday launched India's first green hydrogen fuel cell bus at Kartavya Path. The move is part of Indian Oil's efforts to conduct operational trials of 15 fuel cell buses powered by green hydrogen on designated routes in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The event kicks off with the unveiling of the first two fuel cell buses at India Gate.

VIDEO | Union minister @HardeepSPuri flags off India's first green hydrogen fuel cell bus at Kartavya Path in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/ichFqpO9NC

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 25, 2023

This project marks a significant milestone as it is the first-ever initiative in India to provide green hydrogen at 350 bar pressure for fuel cell bus operation. Indian Oil has also established a refuelling facility at its R&D campus in Faridabad, capable of refuelling green hydrogen produced through electrolysis using solar PV panels.

According to the Ministry Petroleum and Natural Gas press release, Green Hydrogen, produced using renewable energy sources, holds the potential to play a pivotal role in low-carbon and self-reliant economic pathways. It offers the prospect of harnessing domestically abundant renewable energy resources year-round and across various sectors, either as a fuel or an industrial feedstock.

Fuel cell technology is gaining prominence in the realm of e-mobility, where hydrogen serves as a fuel for fuel cells. The electro-chemical process in fuel cells efficiently converts hydrogen and oxygen into water, generating electrical energy.

Fuel cell vehicles boast advantages like longer ranges and shorter refuelling times compared to battery-powered vehicles. Hydrogen gas is stored onboard at high pressure, typically at 350 bar.

Once these first two buses are launched, they will collectively cover over 3 lakh kilometres during long-term performance and durability assessments, PIB statement said. The data generated through these trials will serve as a valuable national resource, shaping the future of zero-emission mobility in India driven by green hydrogen.