India took a decisive step towards hydrogen-powered mobility recently, with Union Minister for New & Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi launching a pilot project to test the use of hydrogen in the mobility sector in a major milestone in the country’s clean energy journey.
The initiative brings together government, industry and scientific institutions, with Toyota Kirloskar Motor handing over its hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), the Toyota Mirai, to the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) for extensive real-world testing.
The Minister said the collaboration strengthens “Energy Aatma Nirbharta”, accelerates low-emission transport solutions and aligns with India’s Panchamrit climate commitments, expressing confidence that green hydrogen will drive the nation’s energy economy in the decades ahead.
Calling the introduction of Toyota’s Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) “a new chapter for sustainable mobility,” the Minister said the name Mirai, meaning “Future” in Japanese, symbolises India’s aspiration for a clean, green and sustainable mobility ecosystem.
Under the memorandum of understanding, NISE will assess the Mirai across India’s diverse and demanding road conditions, including heat, dust, traffic congestion and varied terrain, over the next two years.
The Minister said the testing will generate critical insights to scale up hydrogen mobility nationwide, while building awareness, confidence and technical capability among industry, academia and policymakers. He noted that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are clean, silent and emission-free, emitting only water, and are increasingly being deployed globally across cars, buses, trucks, trains, ships and stationary power systems.
Joshi said that by personally driving the hydrogen vehicle, he wish to send a clear message that hydrogen mobility is ready and well-suited for Indian conditions. Commending Toyota Kirloskar Motor for its commitment to carbon neutrality and NISE for advancing India’s clean energy ambitions, he said, “With this vehicle, we are launching not just an MoU but confidence, cooperation and commitment to a clean and sustainable future”.
Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy Shripad Yesso Naik said the initiative marks a significant step towards India’s clean, green and self-reliant energy future.
He highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has made unprecedented progress in energy transition, including the launch of the National Green Hydrogen Mission in January 2023. The real-world testing of FCEV technology such as the Toyota Mirai, he said, demonstrates India’s rapid movement from policy to experimentation and towards commercialization of hydrogen-based mobility solutions.
Naik emphasized the strong partnership between industry, research institutions and government under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, noting that NISE’s assessment of the Mirai under Indian road and climatic conditions will provide valuable inputs for future scale-up.
He expressed confidence that the pilot project will contribute to wider adoption of hydrogen-based clean transportation, improved air quality and sustainable development, congratulating Toyota Kirloskar Motor and NISE for their roles in the initiative.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor reaffirmed its commitment to India’s hydrogen ambitions. Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Governance, said, "This partnership with the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and the handover of the ‘Toyota Mirai’ for testing & Trails, reaffirm our dedication to supporting India's Green Hydrogen Mission and accelerating the nation's transition toward future mobility that is powered by green & indigenous energy sources.
"We believe hydrogen fuel-cell technology, alongside other sustainable public technologies, will play a pivotal role in helping India achieve its net-zero commitments and energy independence objectives."
Senior officials including MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Mohammad Rihan, Director General of NISE, and Abhay Bakre, Mission Director of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, were present at the launch.
