India has approved a $43 million (around ₹370 crore) pilot programme to deploy up to 70 hydrogen-powered buses and trucks across the country as part of its National Green Hydrogen Mission. The initiative is designed to evaluate the commercial and technical viability of hydrogen-powered heavy transport.
The programme includes the deployment of 27 hydrogen buses and 43 hydrogen trucks using both hydrogen fuel-cell and hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) technologies. The vehicles will operate across 21 freight corridors and public transport routes under 12 consortium-led pilot projects.
The scheme also provides funding for 12 hydrogen refuelling stations, creating the infrastructure needed to support the pilot fleet. The government sees the initiative as a key step toward decarbonising heavy-duty transport and scaling up the use of green hydrogen in India.
