TL;DR
India has launched a pilot project to test hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) with a Toyota Mirai, signaling a broader strategy in green mobility beyond battery EVs.
India is actively exploring hydrogen as a viable alternative to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) through a new pilot project. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Prahlad Joshi, recently initiated a program in Delhi for the National Institute of Solar Energy to conduct real-world evaluations of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) under Indian conditions.
The project features a second-generation Toyota Mirai FCEV, which the minister drove to Parliament, describing the experience as "incredibly smooth, silent and comfortable and with zero emissions." This initiative highlights India's interest in diversifying its green mobility options, even as battery EVs currently dominate the global discussion.
While battery electric mobility is often seen as the most viable path due to energy efficiency and declining battery costs, the government's stance remains technology-agnostic. The evaluation aims to understand the potential of hydrogen fuel cells, which use compressed hydrogen combined with oxygen to power an electric motor, contrasting with the lithium-ion battery-powered BEVs.
