Inching Towards Green Transportation: Govt. Targets 1,000 Hydrogen Trucks, Buses By 2030

The Indian government is mulling to deploy a minimum of 1,000 hydrogen-fuelled commercial vehicles on the roads within the next few years, according to a senior government representative, says a report by Business Standard.

The initiative positions hydrogen-powered transportation as the next choice in clean mobility, following the momentum of electric vehicle (EV) adoption nationwide.

Rollout Strategy

Speaking at a Thursday event hosted by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Abhay Bakre, who heads the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), explained the phased implementation approach.

“Almost 50 trucks and buses should be running this year. And from next year onwards, we will see more scale-up,” Abhay Bakre, Mission Director for the Government's Green Hydrogen Mission, was wuoted as saying.

“I hope by 2030, more than 1,000 trucks or buses will be plying and used commercially in the country. That is what we are expecting,” Bakre added.

Heavy-Duty Vehicles: Focus For Hydrogen Technology

The government's emphasis on medium and heavy commercial vehicles reflects their substantial contribution to transportation emissions, particularly in medium-distance and long-distance freight operations. 

These vehicle categories present unique challenges for battery-electric alternatives due to their demanding payload requirements and cargo space needs, where conventional battery systems prove impractical due to size and weight constraints.

Hydrogen's Competitive Advantage

Government and industry stakeholders view hydrogen fuel as providing superior energy storage density while requiring less physical space compared to battery systems. This makes it particularly suitable for decarbonising extended-range trucking and heavy-duty transportation applications over the long term.

When produced using renewable energy sources, hydrogen achieves complete emission neutrality, positioning it as an optimal solution for reducing carbon footprints in sectors requiring high-capacity, long-distance vehicle operations.

National Green Hydrogen Mission

The officials established the National Green Hydrogen Mission in 2023 to accelerate domestic production, consumption, and international trade of environmentally sustainable hydrogen. 

The programme sets targets for domestic green hydrogen manufacturing capacity reaching a minimum of 5 million metric tons annually by 2030, supported by 60-100 gigawatts of electrolyer infrastructure, backed by government funding of Rs 19,744 crore through 2029-2030.

Within the broader mission framework, specialised schemes support advancing technologies that use green hydrogen for powering buses, trucks, and passenger vehicles through both fuel cell systems and internal combustion engine adaptations.

Pilot Programmes

Major Indian automotive manufacturers including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, and Olectra Greentech are actively developing and field-testing hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles. 

Early deployment efforts have garnered support from petroleum sector companies such as Reliance Industries, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, which are setting up refuelling infrastructure along major freight transportation routes.

Recent milestones include Ashok Leyland and Reliance Industries launching India's inaugural hydrogen internal combustion engine heavy-duty truck in the previous year. Tata Motors completed delivery of the nation's first hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet to Indian Oil Corporation.