The city of Pune has kicked off trials for hydrogen-powered buses, marking a major milestone in India’s clean public transport drive under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The initiative, spearheaded by the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML), will test 12 hydrogen-fueled buses to evaluate their performance, efficiency, and suitability for urban operations.
According to reports by The Indian Express, Maharashtra Times, and The Bridge Chronicle, these trials are part of a broader national roadmap to deploy hydrogen-based mobility solutions. The project is supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA) in collaboration with National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) and Olectra Greentech, a leading electric and hydrogen bus manufacturer.
The trials aim to assess how hydrogen buses perform in Indian road and weather conditions, focusing on fuel efficiency, maintenance cost, refueling time, and emission performance.
Nationally, the push aligns with India’s target of becoming a global leader in the green hydrogen economy. Under the Green Hydrogen Mission, the government has cleared five pilot projects involving 37 hydrogen-powered buses and trucks across multiple cities, backed by ₹208 crore in funding. These projects include contributions from industry leaders such as Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Indian Oil, and Reliance Industries, who are building hydrogen fuel cells, engines, and refueling infrastructure.
The potential benefits of hydrogen-powered transport are immense — zero tailpipe emissions, faster refueling compared to EVs, and longer operational ranges, making it ideal for city and intercity bus routes. If Pune’s pilot succeeds, it could serve as a blueprint for similar rollouts in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad as part of India’s ambition to deploy 1,000 hydrogen buses and trucks by 2030.
As battery-electric buses face limitations in range and charging times, hydrogen technology could emerge as the next leap in clean mobility — one that bridges sustainability with scalability. Pune’s experiment might well shape the roadmap for India’s hydrogen-powered transport future.
