Insider Brief
- Hyundai Motor India has partnered with Indian Oil Corporation for a two-year pilot to evaluate the viability of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in India, starting with the deployment of the Hyundai Nexo for a 40,000-km real-world road test.
- The trial will assess performance under Indian driving conditions and conduct a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis, advancing hydrogen mobility in support of India’s clean energy and carbon neutrality goals.
- Indian Oil, a leader in hydrogen infrastructure, and Hyundai aim to demonstrate the practicality and potential of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel alternative, particularly where fast refueling and longer ranges offer key advantages over battery-electric vehicles.
Hyundai and Indian Oil are teaming up to road-test hydrogen-powered cars in India.
India Today is reporting that under a two-year agreement signed this month, Hyundai Motor India Limited handed over its Nexo hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) to Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. for on-road testing. The trial will span 40,000 kilometers and is designed to evaluate how hydrogen-powered vehicles perform in real-world Indian driving conditions. It will also include an analysis of long-term ownership costs.
“As India’s foremost smart mobility solutions provider, it is our firm resolve to innovate with future ready technology. By signing an MoU with Indian Oil Corporation, a pioneer in India’s energy sector, we aim to combine world-class Hydrogen fuel cell technology with Indian expertise,” India Today quoted Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India, as saying about the partnership.
Kim noted Hyundai seeks to make green hydrogen “accessible, affordable and sustainable” and they “are confident this collaboration will serve as a critical step in demonstrating the potential of hydrogen as an alternate sustainable fuel source in the times to come.”
Fuel cell vehicles offer some advantages over battery electric cars, including shorter refueling times and longer range. However, they require a specialized refueling infrastructure, which is currently limited in India. Indian Oil has been leading efforts to expand hydrogen supply chains in the country and sees the partnership with Hyundai as a way to generate real-world data needed for wider adoption.
“As India’s largest public-sector energy entity, we at Indian Oil are proud to be catalysts in the Government of India’s vision to attain energy security and reduce fossil fuel imports,” said Dr. Alok Sharma, Director (R&D) and Board Member at Indian Oil, as reported by India Today. “We believe hydrogen fuel is a vital component of India’s clean energy roadmap, and fuel cell technology holds immense potential in significantly aiding net carbon neutrality. This collaboration with Hyundai Motor India will enable us to conduct in-depth studies in fuel cell technology and advance efforts towards realizing a greener mobility ecosystem.”
The Nexo, introduced globally by Hyundai in 2018, is a mid-size crossover SUV powered by a 95-kW fuel cell system and a 40-kWh battery. It offers a range of over 600 kilometers on a single refueling and has already undergone testing in other markets such as South Korea, Europe, and California. The India trial will focus on evaluating how the vehicle holds up under local weather, road conditions, and driving patterns.
Hyundai and Indian Oil will monitor factors like fuel efficiency, system durability, and maintenance needs. They will also assess the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), which includes fuel costs, repair expenses, and depreciation—a key metric in determining commercial viability.
