RIL in collaboration with Ashok Leyland has come up with Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) powered heavy-duty truck, making it India’s first hydrogen truck. The heavy vehicle was flagged off by PM Modi in Bengaluru at India Energy earlier this week. Dr. N Saravanan, President, and Chief Technology Officer, Ashok Leyland said, “Working with RIL, we have once again demonstrated our technological leadership and our commitment to the Clean Mobility Mission.”
Green hydrogen is hydrogen generated by renewable energy or from low-carbon power. It is the cleanest form of fuel. A recent Niti Aayog report noted that green hydrogen is critical to India’s economic development and net-zero ambitions, adding that the technology can help abate 3.6 gigatons of cumulative CO2 emissions by 2050.
Commenting on the launch, N Saravanan, President, and Chief Technology Officer, Ashok Leyland, said, “Working with RIL, we have once again demonstrated our technological leadership, and our commitment to the Clean Mobility Mission. Having one of the best R&D teams in the country, we want to continue our path to innovate and leverage new technologies to be a leader in sustainable and environment-friendly mobility.”
The flagship company of Hinduja Group, Ashok Leyland, and Reliance Industries, India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, were working on H2-ICE technology over the past year. The heavy-duty truck has been under testing since August 2022.
The Ashok Leyland H2-ICE truck range is powered by Hydrogen, maintaining overall architecture similar to a conventional diesel-based combustion engine. With a loading capacity of 19-35 tons, the H2-ICE heavy-duty truck helps quick migration to cleaner energy at a relatively lower cost delta, says the official statement. Further, added, “Our aim is to make India’s alternate fuel segment self-reliant and be one of the flag bearers of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign”.
The H2-ICE technology seems to be promising for clean mobility; however, the cost is high owing to limited hydrogen fuel availability. The Central government is working on the National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap and promotional activities like the National Hydrogen Energy Mission. Last month, Ashok Leyland showcased its futuristic vehicle range, powered by electric and hydrogen options at the Auto Expo 2023.
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