The Government of India is conducting multiple experiments to use hydrogen fuel for public transport in different parts of India, says Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. 

 

These include 6 Fuel Cell buses (by Tata Motors Ltd.); 50 hydrogen enriched CNG (H-CNG) buses in Delhi (by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. in collaboration with Govt. of NCT of Delhi); 2 hydrogen fuelled Internal Combustion Engine buses (by IIT Delhi in collaboration with Mahindra & Mahindra); fifteen hydrogen fuelled 3 wheelers (by IIT Delhi in collaboration with Mahindra & Mahindra); 2 Hydrogen-Diesel dual fuel cars (by Mahindra & Mahindra); and one fuel cell car (by CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Laboratory and CSIR-National Physical Laboratory). 

 

However, commercialization of hydrogen fuelled buses has not been undertaken in India so far.

 

To promote vehicles operating on hydrogen fuel, this Ministry has issued a notification, vide G.S.R. 889(E), dated 16.09.2016, for use of Hydrogen as an automotive fuel in the country. 

 

The specifications for Hydrogen for Internal Combustion Engine have been specified in Annexure IV-W of the said notification. 18% blend of Hydrogen with CNG (HCNG) has been notified by this Ministry vide GSR 585(E) dated 25th September 2020. This Ministry vide GSR 579(E) dated 23rd September 2020 has notified safety norms regarding hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and its components.