Tata Motors, India’s premier commercial vehicle manufacturer, has taken a monumental stride in its commitment to foster smarter and more eco-friendly mobility solutions. In a historic move, the company has delivered cutting-edge Hydrogen Fuel Cell-powered (FCEV) buses to the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), the nation’s largest petroleum company. This development marks the advent of a new era in environmentally conscious transportation.
Two of these groundbreaking FCEV buses were formally inaugurated today by distinguished dignitaries, including 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 of IOCL; Dr. Umish Srivastva, Executive Director at IOCL; and Mr. Rajendra Petkar, President & Chief Technology Officer at Tata Motors. The event also witnessed the presence of government delegates from the Government of India, the Government of New Delhi, and representatives from Tata Motors.
Speaking about the successful deployment of first-of-its-kind FCEV bus, Mr. Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, said, “This is an outcome of the progressive policies of the Government, IOCL’s focus on future readiness and Tata Motors’ R&D prowess, all collaborating to fulfil the common vision of clean mobility in India. The delivery of the FCEV buses to IOCL marks a significant step forward in this journey and we are grateful for the trust and support of our partners. At Tata Motors, we always prioritise nation building and are leading the global megatrend of sustainable, connected, and safer mobility in the country. The delivery of these buses today heralds a new era in inter-city mass public transport and marks another step forward towards fulfilling the aspiration of sustainable mobility. With proactive actions to develop and adapt new age technologies, we are creating future-ready transport solutions for both cargo and people to address the mobility needs of tomorrow’s India, today.”
In June 2021, Tata Motors secured a contract from IOCL to supply 15 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) buses for the purpose of evaluating hydrogen-based PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel-cell technology in India. These buses were intended for thorough examination as potential solutions for both inter-city and intra-city transportation.
Manufactured at Tata Motors’ state-of-the-art R&D center in Pune, these buses are 12 meters in length and are specifically designed for easy boarding and disembarking due to their low-floor design. They offer seating for up to 35 passengers and were delivered only after undergoing rigorous road tests and validations.
Tata Motors garnered invaluable expertise and knowledge through a collaborative effort with esteemed industry partners and research institutions. This collaboration was instrumental in adapting advanced hydrogen-based PEM fuel cell technology to suit Indian conditions, and it played a pivotal role in the development of these buses.
Speaking about the technology and innovations incorporated in these new age FCEV buses, Mr Rajendra Petkar, President & Chief Technology Officer, Tata Motors said “Tata Motors is proud to deliver the state-of-the-art, new-generation, technologically-advanced, zero-emission fuel cell powered buses to IOCL. This is an important milestone for green mobility in India, harnessing the strong potential of hydrogen as an energy carrier, ushering in hydrogen economy in the transport sector. This bus features 350-bar hydrogen storage system, 70 Kw fuel cell stack, electronic braking system & stability control for higher safety, intelligent transport system, new-generation telematics for efficient, user-friendly vehicle maintenance and tracking along with roomy interiors. This development is a testimony to Tata Motors’ continued commitment and leadership towards carbon neutrality. As a part of the MoU, Tata Motors and IOCL will continue to make further advances in the core technology related to PEM fuel cells in the times to come.”
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.
