Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari launched India's first hydrogen-based advanced "Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV)" Toyota Mirai on Wednesday.
The hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai has set a Guinness World Record for the longest distance travelled by a fuel cell vehicle without refuelling. Mirai achieved a distance of 845 miles without refueling, reports said.
On Wednesday, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated a pilot project for hydrogen-based advanced fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). Union Minister Hardeep Puri and Raj K Singh were also present at the event.
The pilot project will be conducted by Toyota Kirloskar Motor and International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT). They will also evaluate the world's most advanced FCEV Toyota Mirai, which runs on hydrogen, on Indian roads and climatic conditions.
This will be the first-of-its-kind project in the country aimed at spreading awareness about hydrogen and FCEV technology, and disseminating its benefits to support hydrogen-based society for India, an official statement said.
"Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV), powered by hydrogen is one of the best zero emission solutions. It is completely environment friendly with no tailpipe emissions other than water," Nitin Gadkari tweeted.
Gadkari said green hydrogen could be generated from renewable energy and abundantly available biomass. "Introduction and adoption of technology to tap into the green hydrogen’s potential will play a key role in securing a clean and affordable energy future for India," he said.
Presently, green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis of water using renewable energy.
In February, the Centre notified a "Green Hydrogen Policy" in line with its strong policy focus on renewable energy, a path of net zero energy transition by 2070.
