Tata Motors has once again started to test its hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks. Earlier the popular car makers tested a 15-ton hydrogen-powered truck in March 2023. That truck went up to 250 km with refills every 10-15 minutes.
This test is a significant step towards making Indian transport more sustainable. Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, flagged off this hydrogen fuel trial.
India’s Key Milestones in Hydrogen Vehicle Development
India has been exploring hydrogen as a clean fuel alternative for nearly two decades. It has conducted multiple trials across different vehicle categories. However, mass adoption has remained a challenge. Here ar some notable hydrogen vehicle trials in India.
- 2005: IISc developed the first hydrogen-powered scooter
- 2008: First hydrogen fuel cell bus trial in New Delhi
- 2016: Ashok Leyland announced hydrogen fuel cell truck development
- 2019: Indian Railways conducted a hydrogen fuel cell train trial
- 2025: Tata Motors began testing hydrogen-powered trucks again
Tata Motors had also deployed 15 Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) buses in India as part of a pilot project.
Details About The 2025 Tata Hydrogen-Powered Truck Trials
These trials are part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission and are backed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and will run for up to 24 months.
These tests will determine the feasibility, efficiency, and durability of hydrogen-powered trucks on India’s major freight corridors. The major test routes will be along joining Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Vadodara, Jamshedpur, and Kalinganagar.
Tata has signed up 16 hydrogen-powered trucks for these trials that have different specifications and payload limits.
Also read: Yamaha is Evaluating a New EV Platform for India
Technology Behind Tata’s Hydrogen-Powered Trucks in Trial
Tata Motors is testing two key hydrogen-based powertrain technologies here, Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (H2-FCEV).
These hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks have an operational range of 300-500 km and come with driver-assist safety features. This makes them a promising alternative for long-haul freight transport.
Tata has picked two models for this job, the Tata Prima H.55S which is powered by both H2-ICE and FCEV, and the Tata Prima H.28 which is equipped with H2-ICE.
