Olectra-Reliance’s hydrogen buses likely to be on roads

Olectra Greentech Limited, in association with technology partner Reliance, has developed a Hydrogen bus which is a carbon-free alternative to traditional public transport. A single hydrogen fill allows the bus to travel up to 400 km. It’s tailpipe emission is only water. Meanwhile, India’s first truly indigenously developed Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus was launched last year in August.

A carbon-free alternative to traditional public transportation is here! Soon, you could witness hydrogen buses plying on roads as electric bus manufacturer Olectra Greentech Limited (OGL), in technical partnership with Reliance, is set to roll out such buses in the country.

The Hydrogen bus is a fully carbon-free alternative to traditional public transportation. In the wake of the depletion of natural resources and the negative impacts of air pollution and emissions, the electric bus maker has taken the initiative to accelerate the development of Hydrogen-powered buses.

This initiative will help out the Indian Government to achieve its carbon-free hydrogen ambitions. Olectra aims to contribute to the nation’s environmentally sustainable energy security through its hydrogen buses, the company said in a statement.

Olectra’s hydrogen bus will be a 12-metre low-floor bus with a customisable seating capacity of between 32 to 49 seats along with a driver seat. In a single hydrogen fill, it would be able to travel up to 400 km (approximately from Delhi to Shimla). “Hydrogen for this range coverage takes just about 15 minutes,” the bus maker stated.

On the emission front, these buses generate only water as tailpipe emissions. This is the main unique selling proposition for phasing out old diesel and petrol systems and replacing them with these green buses. Type-4 hydrogen cylinders are established on the top of the bus. These cylinders can withstand temperatures between -20 and +85 degrees Celsius.

Olectra, a part of the MEIL Group, announced that they aim at commercially launching these buses within a year.