Delhi-Faridabad road to host test run of hydrogen fuel-cell buses this year

Subject : Science and technology

Concept :

Later this year, the first test runs of hydrogen-powered buses will likely be under way in Delhi followed by other States.
The buses, developed under a joint venture involving Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. and Tata Motors, will ply — as part of a scientific test experiment — between Delhi and Faridabad, and thereafter on some “iconic” routes, according to S.S.V. Ramakumar, Director (R&D), Indian Oil.
The hydrogen buses in this experiment are like an electric bus, in that hydrogen interacts with a ‘fuel cell’ battery producing electricity and no carbon emissions.
Though they produce electricity like batteries, fuel cells do not deteriorate and can keep running as long they have a steady supply of fuel, in this case hydrogen.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells (HFC)

A hydrogen fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen into electrical energy.
Fuel cells work in a similar manner to conventional batteries found in electric vehicles, but they do not run out of charge and don’t need to be recharged with electricity.
They continue to produce electricity as long as there is a supply of hydrogen.
One of the most successful fuel cells uses the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen to form water.

Advantages of HFC Powered Vehicles:

They produce no tailpipe emissions (emission of gaseous and particulate pollutants) and only emit water vapour and warm air.
They are more efficient than internal combustion engine vehicles.
Hydrogen FCEVs have an advantage over battery powered EVs in terms of refuelling time, hydrogen can be refilled in a fuel cell vehicle in a matter of minutes, nearly as fast as an internal combustion engine can be refilled with fossil fuels.

National Hydrogen Energy Mission

The Union Budget for 2021-22 announced a National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM) to draw up a road map for using hydrogen as an energy source.
It will capitalise on one of the most abundant elements on earth (Hydrogen) for a cleaner alternative fuel option.
The initiative has the potential of transforming transportation.
It will:
- Focus on generation of hydrogen from green power resources.
- Link India’s growing renewable capacity with the hydrogen economy.
- The usage of hydrogen will not only help India in achieving its emission goals under the Paris Agreement, but will also reduce import dependency on fossil fuels.