Govt Strengthens Hydrogen Truck Rollout with New Pilot Batch

By Jony Shekhawat | Published Date : February 18, 2026

Government Expands green Hydrogen Pilot with focus on long-haul trucks and buses.

The government is preparing to clear 30 more hydrogen-run trucks and buses under its Green Hydrogen Mission. This step is mainly for extended road trials. Officials want more real usage data before thinking about any large rollout.

What Is Already Approved

Table of Contents

1. What Is Already Approved

2. Different Technologies Being Tested

3. Funds Kept for Pilot Phase

4. Auto and Energy Firms Taking Part

5. Requirememnt Of Hydrogen Exploration

Read More: Mahindra Udo vs Bajaj GoGo P5012: Which Electric Three-Wheeler Offers Better Value?

For these 37 hydrogen commercial vehicles, 10 fuelling stations have been approved under five pilot projects. These vehicles are mostly long-route heavy trucks and buses. According to officials, hydrogen suits this category because battery packs become too heavy in big commercial vehicles.

Different Technologies Being Tested

From these new 37 commercial vehicles, 15 vehicles run on fuel cell technology. The remaining 22 run on hydrogen internal combustion engines. The next batch will again include a mix of trucks and buses. The goal is to test both systems under different road and load conditions.

Funds Kept for Pilot Phase

Around ₹208 crore has been kept aside for these projects. This money is only for trials and data collection. The government is not planning a nationwide launch right now. First, they want to understand cost, maintenance needs and fuel supply challenges.

Auto and Energy Firms Taking Part

Various automobile manufacturing and energy companies are already part of this pilot project. However, there were few hydrogen trucks and buses for testing on highways and city routes. These early runs helped in checking range and refuelling time.

Requirememnt Of Hydrogen Exploration

Officials feel hydrogen could help in long-haul freight and intercity transport where quick refuelling and longer driving range are important. The electric trucks work well inside cities, but very heavy vehicles on highways may need another solution.

The addition of 30 more vehicles will simply widen the testing network. More vehicles on the road will give clearer numbers and practical feedback. Only after that will bigger policy decisions be taken.

Also Read: 200 Electric Buses Added Under PM e-Bus Sewa Push

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Frequently Asked Questions on Commercial Vehicles

Q1. What mileage can a hydrogen truck deliver?

Ans. Hydrogen trucks typically offer a long driving range, often between 400 to 700 kilometres per fill, depending on load and technology used. Exact mileage varies based on fuel cell efficiency and operating conditions.

Q2. What is the expected price of a hydrogen truck in India?

Ans. Hydrogen trucks are currently more expensive than diesel models due to advanced technology and limited production. Prices can be significantly higher, but costs are expected to reduce as production scales up.

Q3. How much loading capacity do hydrogen trucks support?

Ans. Hydrogen trucks are designed for heavy-duty use and can handle payload capacities similar to conventional heavy commercial vehicles, depending on configuration and chassis design.

Q4. How long does it take to refuel a hydrogen truck?

Ans. Refuelling a hydrogen truck usually takes much less time than charging a battery-electric vehicle. In many cases, it can be refuelled within 10–20 minutes, depending on station capacity.

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