India’s automobile sector is going through a phase of rapid change. The journey that started with petrol, diesel, has started reaching hydrogen vehicles through CNG, electric. The government is now working on options like clean energy, low carbon emissions and hydrogen to reduce dependence on imported fuels like petrol and diesel.
Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has said in his recent statement that India’s automobile industry is making great progress in developing alternative fuel and bio-fuel technology. Hydrogen will play an important role in the future of transportation. The government is running a pilot project on 10 highway corridors to run vehicles on hydrogen.
These trials are being conducted on Greater Noida-Delhi-Agra, Bhubaneswar-Konark-Puri, Ahmedabad-Vadodara-Surat, Sahibabad-Faridabad-Delhi, Pune-Mumbai, Jamshedpur-Kalinga Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram-Kochi, Kochi-Edappally, Jamnagar-Ahmedabad and NH-16 Visakhapatnam-Bayyavaram route.
How much green hydrogen production target has the government set for 2030?
The Union Cabinet had approved ‘National Green Hydrogen Mission’ in January 2023. For this, a budget of Rs 19,744 crore was kept for the financial year 2029-30. Its aim is to produce at least 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen every year by 2030. For this, 125 GW of renewable energy and investment of more than Rs 8 lakh crore will be made.
According to an estimate, after proper implementation of Hydrogen Green Mission, there will be a reduction of 50 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. Apart from this, the possibility of employment of more than 6 lakhs will increase.
The government plans to first trial hydrogen fuel in buses, trucks and vehicles used for government and commercial purposes between 2026 and 2030. Then after 2030, when hydrogen production reaches its target and its fueling stations expand rapidly across the country, then its share in personal vehicles can also be increased.
What will be tested by the trial?
- Demonstration of hydrogen vehicles
- Long range operation capability from hydrogen vehicles
- Possibility of refueling infrastructure
- Cost and possibility of commercial use
What is the price of green hydrogen in India?
In February, Renewable Energy Minister Prahlad Joshi had said that India has set a new global standard in terms of the price of green hydrogen. Its prices have come down to Rs 279 per kg. By the year 2030, the central government wants to bring it below Rs 200 per kilogram, so that the use of hydrogen vehicles proves to be cheaper for the people.
Petrol-diesel, CNG or hydrogen car, which one costs the least?
petrol
- Mileage: 20 KM/L
- Petrol price: around Rs 100 per liter
- Petrol requirement for 1 thousand kilometers – 50
- Total price of petrol-5000
diesel
- Mileage- 20 to 25 KM/L
- Diesel price: Rs 92 per liter
- It will take around 50 liters for 1 thousand kilometers
- Total cost will be Rs 4,600
hydrogen
- Travels about 100 km in 1 kilogram of hydrogen
- Green hydrogen price Rs 279 per kg
- 1000 KM at Rs 279 per kg: around Rs 2,790
CNG
- Mileage- 27 KM/L
- CNG price: Rs 76 per kg
- CNG cost to go 1000 km – 37 kg
- Total CNG price – Rs 2,812
For traveling 1000 kilometers, one has to pay Rs 5000 for petrol, Rs 4600 for diesel and Rs 2812 for CNG. At the same time, based on the current prices, Rs 2790 will have to be spent for hydrogen. Apart from this, the government is trying to reduce the prices of hydrogen. By 2030 it may come below Rs 200 per kg. In such a situation, traveling with hydrogen can become cheaper.
How does hydrogen fuel work in vehicles?
Hydrogen is not a new fuel. It already exists. In view of the increasing environmental threats, its importance has increased recently. In hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCEV), electricity is generated from the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. That car runs on this electricity. The remaining gas comes out in the form of water and steam. There is negligible pollution in this process.
What are the challenges facing India?
Green hydrogen is made from renewable energy such as solar and wind power. This is considered the cleanest option for the environment. The real benefit to the environment in India will be achieved only when green hydrogen production starts on a large scale and at low cost. For this, India will have to increase the capacity of hydrogen production in the country.
By February 2026, India had commissioned green hydrogen production capacity of about 8,000 tonnes annually. This is 0.16 percent of the 2030 target and only 4 years are left to complete it. In such a situation, it is a big challenge for the government to produce 5 million metric tons of green hydrogen by 2030. If this does not happen, the time line of the Green Hydrogen Mission may move forward.
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