Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has partnered with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd to conduct on-road trials of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) using IndianOil’s hydrogen infrastructure. Under the agreement, Hyundai has provided its NEXO hydrogen FCEV to IndianOil for a trial program spanning 40,000 km.
The trials are expected to last two years and will focus on assessing vehicle longevity and operational reliability. The initiative will also involve a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) assessment, including periodic maintenance, to analyze the long-term economic and environmental impact of hydrogen-powered vehicles in India.
Unsoo Kim, Managing Director of HMIL, stated, “Together, we seek to unlock the potential of Green Hydrogen as a transformative energy source making it accessible, affordable, and sustainable. We are confident this collaboration will serve as a critical step in demonstrating the potential of hydrogen as an alternate sustainable fuel source in the times to come.”
IndianOil’s Director (R&D) and Board Member Alok Sharma said, “We believe Hydrogen fuel is a vital component of India’s clean energy roadmap, and fuel cell technology holds immense potential in significantly aiding the nation achieve carbon neutrality.”
In addition to the trials, HMIL stated that it is working with the Ministry of Heavy Industries to support the creation of hydrogen infrastructure under the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) scheme. The company also indicated that it is developing a hydrogen-powered ecosystem, which includes components and supply chain support for manufacturers.