Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, today flagged off the first Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus, marking a milestone in the clean energy transition.
As part of this groundbreaking initiative, the first Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus was flagged off from Kartavya Path, New Delhi. This momentous event was attended by Shri Rameswar Teli, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas & Labour and Employment, Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary, MoP&NG, and Shri S M Vaidya, Chairman of IndianOil.
Explaining the significance of hydrogen as a fuel source, Hardeep Singh Puri highlighted that hydrogen fuel cells use hydrogen and air to generate electricity, emitting only water as a by-product. This makes hydrogen-powered buses not only environmentally friendly but also highly efficient compared to traditional diesel and petrol buses. Additionally, hydrogen-powered buses can fully charge in just a few minutes.
Speaking about the government’s ambitious clean energy plans, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized that emerging fuels like hydrogen and biofuels are expected to account for a quarter of global incremental energy demand growth in the next two decades. He expressed confidence that India, with one of the world’s largest synchronous grids, is on its way to becoming a global leader in hydrogen production and exports, positioning itself as a hub for green hydrogen.
Praising the collaboration between industry and government, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri commended the launch of the world’s first BS 6 (Stage II) Electrified Flex Fuel vehicle prototype, which combines a flex fuel engine with an electric powertrain. He also announced plans to introduce 15 more hydrogen fuel cell buses in the Delhi National Capital Region by the end of the year.
Highlighting the game-changing potential of green hydrogen-powered buses in transforming city transport, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri lauded IndianOil for partnering with Tata Motors to develop indigenous solutions for fuel cells and hydrogen infrastructure. He noted that the success of this project could elevate India from being a net importer of fossil energy to a net exporter of clean hydrogen energy.
Shri Rameswar Teli, echoing the sentiment, stated that hydrogen would play a pivotal role in India’s transition to a carbon-free economy, helping combat climate change. He described the launch as a revolution in India’s commitment to becoming a cleaner and greener nation.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary of MoP&NG, emphasized that India is at a technological and mobility turning point, with the launch of the Green Hydrogen bus symbolizing the country’s shift away from conventional fuels. He encouraged school children to explore green technologies and their potential to replace internal combustion engines.
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Welcoming the dignitaries, Shri S M Vaidya, Chairman of IndianOil, highlighted that hydrogen is poised to be a game-changer in India’s ambitious goal to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2070. He emphasized IndianOil’s commitment to sustainable solutions for greening the mobility sector and announced plans to deploy 15 fuel cell buses in the Delhi NCR Region to evaluate their performance under Indian operating conditions, covering a cumulative distance of 3 lakh kilometers to assess their efficacy, efficiency, and sustainability.
The launch of the first Green Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus represents a significant step toward India’s vision of cleaner and more sustainable transportation, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s energy transition journey.