India begins trials for hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks

India has launched trials for its first fleet of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks. This initiative aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), which has been allocated Rs 197.44 billion to establish India as a leader in hydrogen production, storage, and application.

Under this mission, the Indian government has already awarded 412,000 tonnes per annum of green hydrogen production and approved 3,000 MW of electrolyser manufacturing capacity annually. Additionally, seven pilot projects covering transportation, shipping, steel, and storage have been launched, and 88 safety and scalability standards have been published.

The first batch of three hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks will be deployed on the Faridabad–Delhi NCR and Ahmedabad–Surat–Vadodara routes. To support these trials, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is setting up hydrogen refuelling stations in Faridabad, Vadodara, Pune, and Balasore.

By 2030, India aims to:

• Produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually.
• Install 60,000–100,000 MW of electrolyser capacity.
• Add 125,000 MW of renewable energy capacity dedicated to hydrogen production.

These measures are expected to:

• Reduce 50 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions per year.
• Save Rs 10 trillion in fossil fuel imports.
• Attract Rs 8 trillion in investments.

Industry experts have welcomed India’s hydrogen truck trials but caution that widespread adoption will require overcoming significant infrastructure and cost barriers. “Hydrogen-powered trucks could revolutionise logistics by cutting emissions and reducing fuel dependency, but the technology is still expensive, and refuelling infrastructure is in its early stages,” said an energy analyst.

Our Take
India’s hydrogen truck trials are a step in the right direction, but the country must accelerate investments in hydrogen refuelling stations, electrolyser manufacturing, and renewable energy infrastructure. Without these, the cost of hydrogen will remain high, slowing adoption. Clear policy incentives and private sector participation will be crucial for making hydrogen a viable alternative to diesel in heavy transport.