Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer Tata Motors has recently kicked off trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks in India. These trucks are specifically designed for long haul transportation, marking a significant step towards sustainable mobility solutions. This initiative aligns with India’s ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
Tata Motors secured a tender for the trial phase, supported by the Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The primary objective of these trials is to evaluate the feasibility of using hydrogen-powered vehicles for long-distance haulage and to establish the necessary infrastructure to support such technology.
The trials are expected to last up to two years and will involve deploying 16 advanced hydrogen-powered vehicles with diverse configurations and payload capacities across major freight routes in India. This initiative aims to showcase the potential of green hydrogen in decarbonizing India’s transportation sector.
The vehicles being tested include two Tata Prima H.55S prime movers, one equipped with a Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) and the other with Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) technology, along with the Tata Prima H.28, an advanced H2-ICE truck. These trucks will be evaluated on freight routes in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Vadodara, Delhi-NCR, Jamshedpur, and Kalinganagar.
With an operational range of 300-500km, these trucks are designed to provide sustainable, cost-efficient, and high-performance transportation. They feature the premium Prima cabin and advanced driver-assist safety features to enhance driver comfort, reduce fatigue, and improve productivity while setting new safety benchmarks in the trucking industry.
In addition to these trials, Tata Motors recently inaugurated a vehicle scrapping facility in Guwahati, Assam, named ‘Re.Wi.Re – Recycle with Respect.’ This facility has the capacity to dismantle up to 15,000 end-of-life vehicles annually using eco-friendly processes, further contributing to Tata Motors’ commitment to sustainable practices.
Overall, Tata Motors’ initiatives in the hydrogen-powered truck trials and vehicle scrapping facility demonstrate the company’s dedication to driving innovation, achieving energy independence, and supporting India’s transition to a sustainable and zero-carbon future. These efforts are crucial steps towards addressing climate change and promoting environmental conservation in the transportation sector.
