Hydrogen buses to be introduced for KSRTC; minister C P John holds meeting with Union Minister Gadkari

NEW DELHI: Hydrogen-powered buses, which use environment-friendly green fuel, will be made available to the KSRTC. The initiative is planned to be implemented in association with ANERT under the Central government's low-carbon emission programme.

During a meeting with Kerala Transport Minister C.P. John in Delhi, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari assured full support for the project. Gadkari also instructed officials to implement a pilot project in Kerala.

The launch of the bus service may take some time as new infrastructure and facilities need to be developed.

Hydrogen buses are currently being tested in Pune and Ladakh. Delhi is the only place where two hydrogen buses are operating as regular services. Minister C.P. John travelled on a hydrogen bus jointly operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Indian Oil. KSRTC Managing Director Pramoj Shankar and Additional Resident Commissioner Ashwathy Srinivas also travelled with the minister.

Advantages of hydrogen buses

• The only emission from the buses is water vapour.
• A bus with a 30 kg fuel capacity can travel up to 250 km.
• Hydrogen refuelling can be completed within 10 minutes, avoiding the long charging time required for electric vehicles.

Challenges

• Hydrogen is expensive. Operating a CNG bus costs around Rs 60 per kilometre, while a hydrogen bus costs around Rs 100 per kilometre.
• Since hydrogen is highly flammable, its storage and transportation require strict safety measures. Vehicle tanks also need advanced safety systems.
• Hydrogen fuel stations need to be set up, which will increase costs.

How hydrogen buses work
Compressed hydrogen gas, similar to cooking gas, reacts with oxygen from the air inside a fuel cell to generate electricity. This electricity powers the bus's electric motor.

"The journey on the Delhi hydrogen bus was to examine the possibilities of introducing such buses in the state."
-C.P. John, Transport Minister