Mumbai: In a significant step towards greener logistics solutions, Tata Motors has commenced trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks aimed at long-haul transportation. The trials will cover some of India’s busiest freight corridors, including routes around Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Surat, Vadodara, Jamshedpur, and Kalinganagar.
The trucks being tested incorporate two advanced technologies — Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines (H2-ICE) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell systems, making Tata Motors one of the first Indian manufacturers to deploy both hydrogen propulsion technologies in the commercial vehicle segment.
Decarbonising Freight Movement
The trials, according to Tata Motors, are part of the company’s commitment to decarbonising India’s logistics ecosystem. Heavy-duty trucks, which contribute significantly to transport emissions, are seen as critical candidates for cleaner technologies such as hydrogen-based propulsion.
The trucks will be subjected to real-world conditions, including long-distance haulage, varying terrain, and extreme weather, to evaluate performance, efficiency, and safety before potential commercial rollout.
Strategic Freight Corridors Chosen
The selected routes are key trade arteries connecting major industrial hubs, ensuring the trials reflect actual operational demands. Tata Motors’ testing infrastructure will closely monitor parameters such as fuel efficiency, payload capacity, hydrogen refuelling times, and overall carbon footprint reduction.
Pushing India’s Clean Mobility Agenda
Industry experts view this move as a bold step in aligning with India’s National Hydrogen Mission, which envisions the country as a global leader in green hydrogen production and usage. Hydrogen-powered trucks could play a transformative role in reducing fossil fuel dependence and curbing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
Tata Motors’ Clean Energy Portfolio
The hydrogen truck trials add to Tata Motors’ existing clean mobility portfolio, which already includes electric trucks, CNG vehicles, and other alternative fuel solutions designed for freight and passenger transport.
As global pressure mounts on automakers to adopt cleaner technologies, Tata Motors’ foray into hydrogen mobility is expected to set benchmarks for both Indian and global markets.
