India is advancing plans to deploy more than 1,000 hydrogen-fueled buses and trucks by the end of this decade, as part of a broader push to decarbonize transport through a multi-fuel approach. According to Abhay Bakre, Mission Director for the National Green Hydrogen Mission, initial deployments are expected to begin this year. “Nearly 50 trucks and buses should be operational in 2025. Starting next year, we anticipate a significant scale-up,” he said during a World Environment Day event hosted by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
Medium and heavy commercial vehicles, which typically handle mid- to long-distance freight movement, are among the largest contributors to emissions in the transport sector. These vehicle types require high payload capacity and long range, which makes battery-electric technology less suitable due to the size and weight of battery systems.
Hydrogen offers a compelling alternative for such applications. With a higher energy density and more compact storage needs compared to batteries, hydrogen is viewed as a practical solution for long-haul operations. When sourced from renewable energy, it is also a zero-emission fuel, making it ideal for reducing carbon output in commercial transport.
In 2023, the Government of India introduced the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aimed at scaling up domestic production and usage of green hydrogen. The mission has set a target of producing at least 5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of green hydrogen by 2030, supported by 60 to 100 GW of electrolyser capacity. The initiative is backed by a budget of ₹19,744 crore through FY 2029–30.
As part of this effort, the mission is supporting technology development for the use of green hydrogen in transport, including both fuel cell and hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) applications. Among the two, hydrogen ICE is seen as having a smoother path to adoption due to easier integration with existing manufacturing and servicing infrastructure.
Leading Indian automotive manufacturers including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, and OlectraGreentech are actively working on hydrogen vehicle platforms. Early-stage deployments are being supported through pilot programs, with oil companies such as Reliance Industries, BPCL, and HPCL setting up refueling stations along key freight routes.
In 2023, Ashok Leyland and Reliance Industries unveiled India’s first hydrogen ICE-powered heavy-duty truck. Tata Motors also delivered the first set of hydrogen fuel cell buses to Indian Oil Corporation, signaling the start of hydrogen mobility in commercial fleets.
