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