In a momentous development, Tata Motors, India’s foremost industrial vehicle manufacturer, has dispatched a fleet of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) to Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), the nation’s preeminent petroleum conglomerate. The inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of Hardeep Singh Puri, the Hon’ble Union Minister responsible for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs. Also in attendance were Rajendra Petkar, President & Chief Technology Officer at Tata Motors, and a contingent of dignitaries from the Government of India, Government of New Delhi, and Tata Motors.
The accomplishment is a tangible manifestation of the progressive governmental policies, IOCL’s unwavering commitment to future-proofing, and Tata Motors’ virtuosity in research and development, all coalescing to fulfill the shared vision of pristine mobility within India. Girish Wagh, the Executive Director at Tata Motors, expressed profound gratitude for the unwavering trust and support of their collaborators. He stated, “This momentous occasion underscores Tata Motors’ dedication to the nation’s progress and our leadership in the global shift towards sustainable, interconnected, and more secure transportation systems on Indian soil. The delivery of these exceptional buses today ushers in a new era for inter-city mass transit and takes us another stride closer to realizing the dream of sustainable mobility.”
These revolutionary hydrogen-powered coaches are meticulously assembled at Tata Motors’ world-renowned Research and Development hub in Pune. Boasting a generous length of 12 meters and a commendable low-floor design, these coaches comfortably accommodate up to 35 passengers. What propels these coaches forward is an avant-garde 70 kW hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system.
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Speaking of the technological marvels encapsulated within these FCEV coaches, Rajendra Petkar, President & Chief Technology Officer at Tata Motors, proudly proclaimed, “Tata Motors stands tall as we deliver these state-of-the-art, next-generation, technologically-advanced, emission-free coaches to IOCL.” He further elaborated, “These coaches feature a cutting-edge 350-bar hydrogen storage system, a robust 70 kW fuel cell stack, an electronically controlled braking system paired with stability management for enhanced safety, an intelligent transportation system, and next-generation telematics for streamlined, user-friendly vehicle maintenance and tracking. Additionally, the spacious interiors have been designed with utmost care. This milestone is a testament to Tata Motors’ enduring commitment to environmental sustainability. Under the aegis of our Memorandum of Understanding, Tata Motors and IOCL are poised to make further strides in advancing the fundamental technology underpinning Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells in the foreseeable future.”
It is noteworthy that Tata Motors’ research and development facilities have consistently been at the vanguard of alternate fuel technology, encompassing domains such as battery-electric, hybrid propulsion, CNG, LNG, Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines, and Hydrogen Fuel Cell technologies.