New Delhi: Bharat Benz, in collaboration with Reliance Industries, made a breakthrough in sustainable transportation by showcasing India’s first intercity luxury concept coach powered by Hydrogen Fuel Cell technology.
It was unveiled during the 4th Energy Transitions Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency at Goa between July 19 and July 22, 2023. The occasion was attended by the Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, alongside G20 Delegates.
The luxury intercity coach stands as an achievement as it relies on a Fuel Cell system specially designed and developed by Reliance Industries, incorporating state-of-the-art components from international partners while emphasizing significant localization. This innovation allows the bus to deliver a Gross system power of 127 Kw and Net power of 105 Kw, which is equivalent to 300 HP, aligning it with the current Diesel buses used for intercity applications.
This intercity bus can cover about 400 km on a single hydrogen fill. This development marks a significant step forward in bringing long-distance travel between cities onto clean fuel alternatives like Hydrogen.
As the nation launched the National Green Hydrogen mission on January 4, 2023, there is a concerted effort to synergize demand and supply for innovative and affordable solutions. Mobility, being a crucial aspect of the mission, is targeted due to the significant contribution of Indian transport to 25%-35% of PM 2.5 emissions and the dependency on imported crude, which costs over USD 100 billion to the exchequer.
To ensure the success and safety of this new venture, the luxury intercity coach will undergo extensive trials, validation, and safety testing over the next 12 months. These measures are crucial in evaluating its performance, efficiency, and reliability before its potential deployment for commercial use.
This breakthrough builds upon Reliance Industries Limited’s (RIL) earlier achievements in the field of sustainable transportation. On February 6, 2023, RIL unveiled India’s first Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine technology solution for heavy-duty trucks. The solution was inaugurated and flagged off by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, at the India Energy Week in Bengaluru.
The G20 Energy Transitions Working Group serves as an essential platform, uniting representatives from G20 countries, international organizations, and other stakeholders to address global challenges in energy transition and sustainability. With the collaboration between Bharat Benz and Reliance Industries, India’s strides towards a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable transportation sector have garnered significant attention and appreciation on the global stage.
