IndianOil, Tata Motors launch fuel cell bus

The vehicle, launched on the 47th Foundation Day Function of IndianOil R&D, has been executed under the partial financial support from Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

March 12, 2018

The occasion marked the inauguration of a Fuel Cell laboratory at the IndianOil R&D centre - a leading research centre that has pioneered innovation in the petroleum sector.

Hydrogen is considered to be the fuel of the future and using the fuel cell technology, very high efficiencies can be achieved with water as the only component in the exhaust.

The fuel cell bus would be subjected to long duration trials to understand the durability and efficacy of fuel cell technology for mass mobility applications in India.

The launch coincides with the Government’s efforts to move all vehicles to electric platform in future, herein fuel cell can offer easy alternative for emission-less transportation.

IndianOil Corp Ltd, the country’s largest fuel refiner and retailer, along with Tata Motors Ltd, the largest automobile manufacturer in India, have launched the country’s first hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus. The demonstration trials of the emission-free vehicle was flagged off by Dr R Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Indian Government during the 47th Foundation Day Function of Indian Oil R&D on March 12th. The project is being executed under partial financial support from the Government’s Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

The occasion also marked the inauguration of a Fuel Cell laboratory at the IndianOil R&D centre. The Faridabad-based R&D centre is a leading energy research centre and has pioneered several technologies in the petroleum sector. Hydrogen is considered to be the fuel of the future and using the fuel cell technology, very high efficiencies can be achieved with water as the only component in the exhaust. To be fuelled at the nation’s first hydrogen dispensing facility at the R&D centre, the vehicle will be subjected to long duration trials to understand the efficacy of fuel cell technology for mobility applications.

The launch comes as IndianOil is trying to enter the battery industry with upgraded lead-acid technology, lithium-ion technology as well as other innovations such as fuel cell. The launch also coincides with the Government’s efforts to move all vehicles to electric platforms in future. Fuel cell technology can aid this ambitious target by providing an easy alternative for emission-less transportation. This is crucial as more than 6 million hybrid and electric vehicles are estimated to be sold annually by 2020. The sector has also seen increasing investment from private and foreign entities looking to tap the growth.

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