Hyundai and Indian Oil Partner to Pioneer Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles in India
Key Ideas
- Hyundai Motor India teams up with Indian Oil Corporation to explore widespread usage of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in India.
- The collaboration involves real-world testing of the Hyundai Nexo, a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, on Indian roads for a two-year period covering 40,000 km to evaluate performance and reliability.
- The initiative aims to assess the total cost of ownership, including maintenance, to showcase the economic and environmental advantages of adopting hydrogen-powered vehicles in the Indian market.
- Other major Indian automotive companies like Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, and Mahindra & Mahindra are also venturing into hydrogen fuel cell technology, showcasing a growing interest in sustainable fuel sources.
Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to delve into the feasibility of mass deployment of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in India. As part of this agreement, HMIL has provided Indian Oil with a Hyundai Nexo, a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle, for on-road testing to assess its performance in real-world conditions. The trial period is set for two years and will involve evaluating the Nexo's durability and operational efficiency over an anticipated distance of 40,000 km. The partnership also includes a total cost of ownership assessment to shed light on the long-term benefits, both economically and environmentally, of integrating hydrogen-powered vehicles into the Indian automotive market. Unsoo Kim, managing director of HMIL, expressed confidence in the collaboration's potential to showcase hydrogen as a sustainable and accessible energy source for the future. The move aligns with Hyundai's commitment to introducing hydrogen-powered vehicles to the Indian market. Concurrently, Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, and Mahindra & Mahindra are also making strides in the hydrogen fuel cell technology domain. Tata Motors has commenced trials for India's first hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks, while Ashok Leyland aims for a commercial launch of hydrogen-powered trucks by October 2026. Mahindra & Mahindra, a pioneer in the field, has been laying the groundwork for future fuel cell electric vehicle advancements. These developments signal a collective shift towards embracing green energy and sustainable mobility solutions in India's automotive industry.