India Tests Hydrogen Trucks and Green Hydrogen Potential

India's air quality has reached alarming levels. According to Swiss organisation IQAir’s World Air Quality Report, in 2023, nine out of the top 10 most polluted cities were in India—including its capital, Delhi. A major culprit for this pollution is road transport, particularly medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) including trucks and buses >6T gross vehicle weight. In an effort to tackle this issue, India has upgraded its vehicular emissions standards from BS IV to BS VI.

Yet, tailpipe emissions remain a serious concern, prompting policymakers to seek cleaner alternatives to diesel, such as hydrogen trucks, to curb rising air pollution from the trucking sector.

As India works toward its goal of net-zero emissions by 2070, cutting carbon emissions from transportation will be crucial. To do so will require exploring cleaner fuel options.

Hydrogen stands out as a strong potential alternative due to its clean fuel reputation and high energy efficiency. Hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine (H2 ICE) and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) emit only water and air from the vehicle tailpipe.

However, challenges like high production costs, infrastructure gaps, and regulatory hurdles must be addressed for hydrogen to become a mainstream fuel for India’s trucking segment.

Still, India's geographical advantages, including abundant sunlight and natural resources, make it well-suited to harness “green” hydrogen, minimizing well-to-wheel emissions. To support this endeavor, the Indian government launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission to facilitate its production and support the nation’s burgeoning green hydrogen ecosystem. This initiative includes incentives for electrolyser manufacturers and green hydrogen producers as well as pilot projects for hydrogen-fueled MHCVs.

Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and energy companies have formed strategic partnerships to explore hydrogen fuel's viability in the MHCV segment. Hydrogen shows strong promise for long-haul transport due to its high energy density, extended range, greater payload capacity, and faster refueling times compared to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs).

At the 2025 India Auto Expo, MHCV manufacturers showcased both FCEV and H2 ICE trucks and buses, aligning with government efforts to promote cleaner transportation.

Indian manufacturers favor H2 ICE technology because it works well with existing supply chains and requires fewer changes to vehicle components, helping keep upfront costs manageable compared to BEVs or FCEVs. Another advantage is that H2 ICE engines can run on less pure hydrogen, which FCEVs cannot.