Tata Motors delivers Hydrogen Fuel Cell buses to Indian Oil

Tata Motors had won a tender from IOCL to provide 15 FCEV buses to evaluate the potential of hydrogen-based PEM fuel-cell technology in India.

Mumbai- Tata Motors Ltd.,  an Indian commercial vehicle manufacturers, delivered the first-ever Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered (FCEV) buses to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), a petroleum company. Heralding a new era of fully decarbonised transport, two buses were flagged-off by Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Rameswar Teli, Union Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Labour & Employment, Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri S M Vaidya, Chairman, IOCL, Dr. Umish Srivastva, Executive Director, IOCL, and Mr. Rajendra Petkar, President & Chief Technology Officer, Tata Motors, along with delegates from Government of India, Government of New Delhi and Tata Motors.

Mr. Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, said that, This is the result of the government's progressive policies, IOCL's emphasis on future preparation, and Tata Motors' strong R&D capabilities working together to realize the shared vision of clean mobility in India. We are appreciative of our partners' faith and support as we go forward on this journey with the delivery of the FCEV buses to IOCL. In addition to leading the national movement toward sustainable, connected, and safer mobility, Tata Motors has always placed a high priority on the development of the nation. The delivery of these buses today symbolizes the beginning of a new era for intercity mass transit and is a step closer to realizing the dream of sustainable transportation. In order to meet the mobility needs of India in the future, we are taking proactive steps to create and adapt new age technologies. We are developing future-ready transport solutions for both freight and people.

In June 2021, Tata Motors had won a tender from IOCL to provide 15 FCEV buses to evaluate the potential of hydrogen-based PEM fuel-cell technology in India. These buses are to be assessed as potential mass transport solution for inter and intra-city commute.

Built at a dedicated lab in Tata Motors’ world class R&D centre at Pune, these 12-metre long buses are designed for easy ingress and egress with a low-floor design, can seat 35 passengers and were delivered after successful strenuous road tests and validations. Expertise and experiences was acquired by Tata Motors from a collaborative approach with renowned industry partners and research institutions, for adapting the advanced hydrogen-based proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology to Indian conditions, and has played a key role in developing the buses.

Mr. Rajendra Petkar, President & Chief Technology Officer, Tata Motors  said that, IOCL will receive a new generation of technologically innovative, zero-emission fuel cell-powered buses from Tata Motors. By utilizing the significant potential of hydrogen as an energy source and launching a hydrogen economy in the transportation sector, this represents a major turning point for green mobility in India. In addition to capacious accommodations, this bus has a 350-bar hydrogen storage system, a 70 Kw fuel cell stack, electronic brakes and stability control for increased safety, an intelligent transport system, and new-generation telematics for effective, user-friendly vehicle maintenance and tracking. This accomplishment demonstrates Tata Motors' ongoing dedication to and leadership in the field of carbon neutrality. In accordance with the terms of the MoU, Tata Motors and IOCL will continue to enhance PEM fuel cell core technology in the future.

Being India’s largest and most innovative commercial vehicle manufacturer, Tata Motors research and development facilities have consistently engineered innovative mobility solutions powered by alternate fuel technology, including battery-electric, hybrid, CNG, LNG, Hydrogen ICE and Hydrogen Fuel Cell technologies.