Tata Motors has taken a significant step in revolutionizing long-haul transportation by initiating the first-ever trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks in India. The trials, launched on March 4, 2025, aim to evaluate the feasibility of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel for commercial freight transport over an extensive 24-month period. This ambitious project involves the deployment of 16 state-of-the-art hydrogen-powered vehicles, each designed with different payload capacities and configurations to ensure comprehensive testing across diverse scenarios.
These trucks incorporate advanced Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (H2-FCEV) technologies, making them an innovative solution for long-haul freight movement. The trial phase will cover some of the country’s most crucial freight corridors, including Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Surat, Vadodara, Jamshedpur, and Kalinganagar, ensuring that these vehicles are tested under real-world conditions.
Girish Wagh, Executive Director of Tata Motors, emphasized that battery-electric technology does not appear to be a viable solution for heavy-duty, long-distance transportation, necessitating the exploration of alternative solutions like hydrogen. While advancements in battery technology continue, the company is simultaneously focusing on hydrogen as a promising alternative. He highlighted that real-world trials are crucial in assessing the viability of this technology, gathering valuable feedback on vehicle performance, infrastructure requirements, commercial feasibility, and necessary policy support.
These trials will provide critical insights into how hydrogen can be effectively integrated into India’s commercial vehicle ecosystem, helping identify the necessary infrastructure and economic feasibility for widespread adoption. Wagh stressed that such experimentation is vital in understanding how hydrogen-powered solutions can be commercialized, ultimately shaping the future of sustainable transport in the country.
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has awarded Tata Motors the tender for this initiative under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. As part of this groundbreaking project, three hydrogen-powered trucks were flagged off by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who underscored the transformative potential of hydrogen in India’s transport sector. He stated that hydrogen is the fuel of the future, offering a powerful solution to reducing emissions and strengthening India’s energy independence. He further emphasized that such initiatives will significantly accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility in heavy-duty trucking, bringing the nation closer to a low-carbon future.
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, also highlighted the importance of this trial, calling it a major step in demonstrating the potential of green hydrogen in decarbonizing transportation. He noted that the initiative reflects the government’s strong commitment to fostering innovation, driving the adoption of alternative energy sources, and steering India towards energy self-reliance while contributing to global climate goals.
Tata Motors continues to lead in developing advanced mobility solutions powered by alternative fuels, including battery-electric, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen internal combustion, and hydrogen fuel cell technology. With this initiative, the company further strengthens its role in pioneering sustainable transportation solutions, laying the foundation for a cleaner, more energy-efficient future in heavy-duty commercial mobility.
