Tata Motors, the country’s largest commercial vehicle player, has won a tender for 15 hydrogen-based proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell buses from the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). The buses will be used to evaluate the potential of developing hydrogen-based PEM fuel-cell technology in India.
IOC had invited bids for the supply of PEM fuel cell buses in December 2020, and Tata Motors was selected as the winner following a diligent evaluation process.
All 15 buses will be delivered within 144 weeks from the date of signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
In addition to supplying the buses to the Research & Development Centre of IOC, Tata Motors will also collaborate with them to undertake R&D projects and collectively study further the potential of fuel cell technology for commercial vehicles.
This will be done by jointly testing, maintaining and operating these buses for public transport in real-world conditions in Delhi NCR. The buses will be refuelled with hydrogen, generated and dispensed by IOC.
SM Vaidya, Chairman, IOC said this is a first of its kind project in the country is bringing the country’s largest fuel supplier and largest commercial vehicle manufacturer on board to take the hydrogen & fuel cell technology to the next level. These futuristic steps are in the right direction for making hydrogen the ultimate net-zero fuel.
Girish Wagh, President, Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors said, “This order to supply PEM fuel cell buses from IOC further encourages our on-going efforts on developing India-focused alternative sustainable fuels to transform the future of mobility in India.”
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