Delhi-Faridabad road to host test run of hydrogen fuel-cell buses this year
- July 8, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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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.