Exit electric cars, enter hydrogen-based vehicles: Centre launches `Toyota Mirai’ on pilot basis

Forget electric vehicles, the Centre is set to roll out green hydrogen-based advanced fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in India.

Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari launched a pilot study on green hydrogen-based advanced fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), Toyota Mirai.

This is the first-of-its-kind project in India that aims to create an ecosystem for such vehicles in the country.

Gadkari said FCEV, powered by hydrogen, is one of the best zero-emission solutions. It is completely environment-friendly with no tailpipe emissions other than water. “Green hydrogen can be generated from renewable energy and abundantly available biomass,” he said.

Toyota Mirai promises to be a greener alternative to battery EVs as hydrogen production results in significantly fewer emissions compared to the production of batteries

Gadkari noted that the introduction and adoption of technology to tap into the green hydrogen’s potential will play a key role in securing a clean and affordable energy future for India.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, along with the International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT), is conducting a pilot project to study and evaluate the world’s most advanced FCEV Toyota Mirai, which runs on hydrogen, on Indian roads and climatic conditions.