Mumbai, India (CU)_ Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, unveiled India’s first Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus built domestically by KPIT-CSIR in Pune. At the launching event, Singh referred to Green Hydrogen as an outstanding clean energy vector that permits the thorough decarbonization of tough-to- control emissions from the following industries: refining industry, fertilizer industry, steel industry, cement industry, and the heavy commercial transportation sector.
The minister told the audience that the fuel cell uses hydrogen and air to create energy to power the bus, and that the only effluent released from the bus is water, suggesting that it may be the most ecologically benign means of transportation. For example, a single diesel bus operating on long-distance routes releases 100 tons of CO2 yearly, and India has more than a million of such vehicles. In sharp contrast to large commercial vehicles that use diesel, which contribute to 12-14% of CO2 and particle emissions, fuel cell vehicles emit no greenhouse gasses.
According to him, hydrogen-powered automobiles are an effective way to minimize large commercial transportation’s on-road emissions. Singh noted that the great efficiency of fuel cell automobiles and the high energy density of hydrogen lower the operational costs in rupees per kilometer for fuel cell trucks and buses compared to diesel-fuelled vehicles, and that this might lead to a revolution in the Indian freight industry. According to Singh, India can make a quantum leap from being a major importer of fossil energy to a major exporter of clean hydrogen energy, giving worldwide leadership in the hydrogen arena by being a major manufacturer and supplier of green hydrogen equipment.
The minister took to Twitter and uploaded a video of the event on his account. He tweeted, “Inspired by PM Sh @NarendraModi’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, unveiled India’s first indigenously developed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus developed by KPIT-#CSIR at #Pune, supported by the Union Ministry of Science & Technology.” The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus is the result of a collaboration between KPIT and CSIR-NCL.
