Re-defining mobility

Commercialisation of hydrogen-powered, zero-emission FECBs can transform India’s mobility sector by enhancing fuel efficiency and bringing down the cost factor

- PRARTHANA SEN

In clear alignment with India's vision to become a global hub of green hydrogen, Olectra Greentech in partnership with Reliance and Oil India Limited (OIL) came to unveil indigenously developed Fuel Cell Electronic Buses (FCEB) in February 2023. Though India now has quite a few FCEB initiatives in place, the country still has miles to go in terms of the availability of hydrogen in adequate amounts that would enable FCEBs to emerge as a practical carbon-free alternative.

There are, however, multiple advantages to introducing FCEBs in India's public transport sector that ought to be noted. Quieter than their combustion cousins, FCEBs are known to be quiet vehicles due to fewer vibrations from the moving parts. Refuelling them is also much quicker than the time taken to charge a battery electric vehicle, and stands at par with those of combustion vehicles.

Since hydrogen fuel weighs lesser than electric batteries, they become an attractive option for long-haul vehicles and driving long distances. A bus can have higher amounts of energy available without any significant increase in its weight an important consideration in cases of long-haul buses with regard to maximum permissible safe axle weight.

Its exhaust products being simply water and heat, make it a zero-emissions vehicle and allows one to keep their vehicle on even while it is stopped, to provide cooling and heating for comfort. For instance, the heat produced can be utilized for warming up passenger compartments, thus eliminating the requirement for separate diesel heaters for use in the winter months.