SC tells Delhi to consider hydrogen fuel-cell buses

TusharK · 3rd July 2018, 17:51

The Supreme Court has directed the government of Delhi to explore the feasibility of hydrogen-powered buses for its public transport fleet. The Environment Pollution Prevention & Control Authority (EPCA) has also been asked to work out how these buses could be introduced in the capital.

SC tells Delhi to consider hydrogen fuel-cell buses-tata-fuel-cell.jpg

According to a media report, the Delhi government had notified the court that it had initiated the process of procuring 1,000 electric buses. The court said that it would be better to switch from CNG to hydrogen fuel instead and highlighted the fact that hydrogen buses have been successfully introduced in various countries including in the state of California in the US.

In India, Tata Motors has started manufacturing hydrogen-powered buses as well. These buses use a hydrogen fuel cell, which combines compressed hydrogen with oxygen from the air to produce electricity. It is said that Hydrogen-powered buses have a range of 400 km and are claimed to have lower running costs compared to conventional buses. Tata Motors' first hydrogen-powered Starbus Fuel Cell was showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo.

Source: Times of India

Link to Team-BHP News

srishiva · 3rd July 2018, 18:55

What is the source for SC to recommend hydrogen fuel cell buses ? Any research or consultation with experts ? Bengaluru has natural gas pipelines for some time but they havent been able to use it effectively. There is no practice of all the talk.

Electrical power generation/distribution is much easier than hydrogen in our country.

silversteed · 4th July 2018, 09:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by srishiva

...to recommend hydrogen fuel cell buses ? ...

Sometimes I feel certain constitutional posts have been reduced to the epicentre of monkey business.

Quote:

Electrical power generation/distribution is much easier than hydrogen in our country.

We don't as yet have any norms on the transport and storage of Hydrogen as a fuel for transportation. It will probably be passed off as just another hazardous chemical like LPG, without taking into account the risks involved.

The logical step would be to promote Plug-in Diesel/LNG/CNG-Hybrids to phase out pure-ICE vehicles and then at a later stage switch to EVs when the charging infra is properly set up and the teething problems fixed.

sandeepmohan · 4th July 2018, 10:21

I don't get this. When a tiny state like Kerala (a few others as well) are testing waters with BYD electric buses, why can't the country capital take a similar path?

I am not trying to kill the fuel cell idea. It seems too complicated to get go. With electric buses, you have the option of harnessing the power of the sun (along with wind and coal), which we have a lot.

GTO · 5th July 2018, 10:14

Even developed countries are struggling with hydrogen fuel-cell adoption, while a biggie like Toyota who bet on this vs EVs appears to now be focusing on the latter.

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles can become popular only with the government's full support. It'll require enormous commitment. I don't see much of a future for it in India, at least in the short to mid-term. We haven't even adopted hybrids yet, despite them being just perfect for our driving conditions.

Delhi should just go the electric way for its buses. Options are / will be plenty and setting up charging stations at depots is a 1-month job.

extreme_torque · 5th July 2018, 10:21

I can't believe how we want to go and adopt sophisticated technologies when our general road conditions and the dust will make sure that they go bust very soon. Improve the road infrastructure, improve the traffic management and fuel quality and we will have won half the battle already. Its akin to installing a powerful air conditioner when we do not even have a door or a window in the room.

sgiitk · 5th July 2018, 10:26

I think the courts should not prescribe any technology. What may be (at best) acceptable is asking for looking at the alternatives with (maybe) sone guidelines. Is that that his Lordship is suddenly enamored of some technology.

CarJunki · 5th July 2018, 12:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

Delhi should just go the electric way for its buses. Options are / will be plenty and setting up charging stations at depots is a 1-month job.

With current battery charging times, full EV public transport is quite fun.

3rd July 2018, 17:51	#1
TusharK Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Pune Posts: 7,503 Thanked: 66,485 Times	SC tells Delhi to consider hydrogen fuel-cell buses The Supreme Court has directed the government of Delhi to explore the feasibility of hydrogen-powered buses for its public transport fleet. The Environment Pollution Prevention & Control Authority (EPCA) has also been asked to work out how these buses could be introduced in the capital. According to a media report, the Delhi government had notified the court that it had initiated the process of procuring 1,000 electric buses. The court said that it would be better to switch from CNG to hydrogen fuel instead and highlighted the fact that hydrogen buses have been successfully introduced in various countries including in the state of California in the US. In India, Tata Motors has started manufacturing hydrogen-powered buses as well. These buses use a hydrogen fuel cell, which combines compressed hydrogen with oxygen from the air to produce electricity. It is said that Hydrogen-powered buses have a range of 400 km and are claimed to have lower running costs compared to conventional buses. Tata Motors' first hydrogen-powered Starbus Fuel Cell was showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo. Source: Times of India Link to Team-BHP News Last edited by TusharK : 3rd July 2018 at 17:55.
	(4) Thanks

3rd July 2018, 18:55	#2
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,372 Thanked: 2,260 Times	Re: SC tells Delhi to consider hydrogen fuel-cell buses What is the source for SC to recommend hydrogen fuel cell buses ? Any research or consultation with experts ? Bengaluru has natural gas pipelines for some time but they havent been able to use it effectively. There is no practice of all the talk. Electrical power generation/distribution is much easier than hydrogen in our country.
	(5) Thanks

4th July 2018, 10:21	#4
sandeepmohan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Wellington Posts: 3,292 Thanked: 6,081 Times	Re: SC tells Delhi to consider hydrogen fuel-cell buses I don't get this. When a tiny state like Kerala (a few others as well) are testing waters with BYD electric buses, why can't the country capital take a similar path? I am not trying to kill the fuel cell idea. It seems too complicated to get go. With electric buses, you have the option of harnessing the power of the sun (along with wind and coal), which we have a lot.
	(4) Thanks

5th July 2018, 10:14	#5
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,879 Thanked: 323,164 Times View My Garage	Re: SC tells Delhi to consider hydrogen fuel-cell buses Even developed countries are struggling with hydrogen fuel-cell adoption, while a biggie like Toyota who bet on this vs EVs appears to now be focusing on the latter. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles can become popular only with the government's full support. It'll require enormous commitment. I don't see much of a future for it in India, at least in the short to mid-term. We haven't even adopted hybrids yet, despite them being just perfect for our driving conditions. Delhi should just go the electric way for its buses. Options are / will be plenty and setting up charging stations at depots is a 1-month job.
	(1) Thanks

5th July 2018, 10:21	#6
extreme_torque BANNED Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 4,461 Thanked: 5,535 Times	Re: SC tells Delhi to consider hydrogen fuel-cell buses I can't believe how we want to go and adopt sophisticated technologies when our general road conditions and the dust will make sure that they go bust very soon. Improve the road infrastructure, improve the traffic management and fuel quality and we will have won half the battle already. Its akin to installing a powerful air conditioner when we do not even have a door or a window in the room.
	(1) Thanks

5th July 2018, 10:26	#7
sgiitk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,971 Thanked: 4,809 Times	Re: SC tells Delhi to consider hydrogen fuel-cell buses I think the courts should not prescribe any technology. What may be (at best) acceptable is asking for looking at the alternatives with (maybe) sone guidelines. Is that that his Lordship is suddenly enamored of some technology.
	(3) Thanks