Nitin Gadkari Flags Off Trials Of Hydrogen-Powered Trucks By Tata Motors

Tata Motors has launched the first-ever trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks. The trial which marks a step towards sustainable long distance cargo transportation, was flagged off by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy. The ceremony also saw the participation of Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, among other delegates from the Government of India and the two companies.

Through this initiative, Tata Motors underscores its commitment in sustainable mobility solutions, aligning with India’s broader green energy goals. It was awarded the tender for this trial, which is funded by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

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The trial phase will span up to 24 months and involves deployment of 16 advanced hydrogen-powered vehicles with varying configurations and payload capacities. These trucks, equipped with Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines (H2-ICE) and Fuel Cell (H2-FCEV) technologies, will be tested on India’s prominent freight routes, including those around Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Surat, Vadodara, Jamshedpur and Kalinganagar.

Flagging-off the trial, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, said, "Hydrogen is the fuel of the future with immense potential to transform India’s transportation sector by reducing emissions and enhancing energy self-reliance. Such Initiatives will accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility in heavy-duty trucking, and move us closer to an efficient, low-carbon future. I congratulate Tata Motors for taking the lead in this significant step towards enabling hydrogen-powered green and smart transportation."

The flagged-off vehicles consist of both Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2ICE) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) technologies including two Tata Prima H.55S prime movers—one powered by H2ICE and the other by FCEV, alongside the Tata Prima H.28, an advanced H2ICE truck. With an operational range of 300-500 km, these vehicles are engineered for sustainable, cost-efficient, and high-performance transportation.

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The company offers a portfolio of alternate-fuel powered commercial vehicles across various segments, including small commercial vehicles, trucks, buses and vans. The company had won a tender of 15 Hydrogen FCEV buses, which are successfully deployed on Indian roads.

“As a company with a long-standing commitment to nation-building, we have continuously embraced innovation to develop mobility solutions that contribute to India’s growth and development. Today, with the commencement of these hydrogen truck trials, we are proud to further this legacy by pioneering the transition to clean, zero emission energy for long haul transportation. We are grateful to the Government of India for their visionary leadership in making this possible, and we remain committed to playing our part in building sustainable, future ready mobility solutions that will deliver better performance and efficiency," Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, said.