Team Blitz India
IN a significant milestone towards promoting sustainable, ecofriendly transportation solutions, Indian Oil has handed over a stateof-the-art green hydrogen fuel cell bus to the Indian Army. The handing over and signing ceremony was held at the National War Memorial, India Gate, in the presence of Army Chief General Manoj Pande and Chairman of Indian Oil SM Vaidya.
This initiative aims to promote hydrogen and fuel cell technology for heavy-duty e-mobility, positioning the Indian Army as a pioneer in evaluating this technology in collaboration with Indian Oil.
Speaking on the occasion, Army Chief General Manoj Pande said that the army is committed to exploring and adopting innovative technologies that enhance the army’s operational capabilities while ensuring environmental sustainability.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between the army and the IOCL. Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology offers a clean and efficient alternative by converting Hydrogen gas into electricity through an electro-chemical process. The process leaves water vapour as the only by product, thus ensuring zero emission.
The Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus has a seating capacity of 37 passengers. It promises an impressive mileage of 250-300 km on a full 30 kg onboard tank of Hydrogen fuel.
Notably, on March 21, 2023, the army became the first Government entity to ink an MoU with National Thermal Power Corporation Renewable Energy Limited for installation of Green Hydrogen based Microgrid Power Plants along the Northern borders. A pilot project is being setup at Chushul, where a 200 Kilo Watt Green Hydrogen based Microgram will provide 24×7 clean electricity to troops deployed in inhospitable terrain and extreme climatic conditions.
