NTPC initiates project to ply Hydrogen-fuel buses on Delhi-Jaipur route

In an attempt to promote eco-friendly means of transport and cut down on the excessive use of imported fuels, the state and central authorities have been trying to explore energy-saving substitutes for powering vehicles. In alignment with this, Jaipur expects to be gifted with an efficient mode of connectivity with Delhi. If the reports are to be believed, National Thermal Power Corporation plans to deploy hydrogen-fueled buses on Delhi to Jaipur route.

Initiative to be amplified only after evaluating the pilot project

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2F2018%2F03%2Findias-first-fuel-cell-powered-bus-tata-starbus-hydrogen.jpg%3Fw%3D800%26h%3D533%26imflag%3Dtrue&ho=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.financialexpress.com&s=724&h=818dcc075d5edb501f1b6cbd8ef65b8720d3699c36670c0ddfdcbeee0c8686f9&size=980x&c=56102418 photo_credit="images.financialexpress.com" dam="0" pin_description="" photo_credit_src="https://images.financialexpress.com/2018/03/indias-first-fuel-cell-powered-bus-tata-starbus-hydrogen.jpg?w=800&h=533&imflag=true" crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252F2018%252F03%252Findias-first-fuel-cell-powered-bus-tata-starbus-hydrogen.jpg%253Fw%253D800%2526h%253D533%2526imflag%253Dtrue%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fimages.financialexpress.com%26s%3D724%26h%3D818dcc075d5edb501f1b6cbd8ef65b8720d3699c36670c0ddfdcbeee0c8686f9%26size%3D980x%26c%3D56102418%22%7D" expand=1] images.financialexpress.com

Though the time-frame for the proposed initiative has not been worked upon, it is anticipated to be executed in the near future. The latest buses would start operations as a part of a pilot project, which would evaluate the feasibility and economics of using hydrogen fuel. While it is expected that the project would bring a list of advantages, it will be up-scaled only after assessing the first-round analytics. This includes the cost-benefit parameters and the comparison with the ordinary ICE buses in terms of affordability. In addition to using hydrogen-run vehicles, the government is also exploring the possibilities of using electric buses on the same route.

Electric tractor to be launched in March

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Faskmen_in%2Fphoto%2Fdefault%2Ffeatured-image2_cw8v.jpg&ho=https%3A%2F%2Fsm.askmen.com&s=975&h=07ac459394a4eb5850f75b1d2d5e3c9aafa06fa8f9ac0466de4997540933c0a0&size=980x&c=437316270 photo_credit="sm.askmen.com" dam="0" pin_description="" photo_credit_src="https://sm.askmen.com/askmen_in/photo/default/featured-image2_cw8v.jpg" crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Faskmen_in%252Fphoto%252Fdefault%252Ffeatured-image2_cw8v.jpg%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fsm.askmen.com%26s%3D975%26h%3D07ac459394a4eb5850f75b1d2d5e3c9aafa06fa8f9ac0466de4997540933c0a0%26size%3D980x%26c%3D437316270%22%7D" expand=1] sm.askmen.com

According to reports, the recent plans are not just focused on inter-city public transport. Reportedly, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways asserted that the country would witness the launch of an innovative electricity-powered tractor in March. Additionally, Maharashtra is also attempting to use electric buses for intracity public travel in the future.

Given the growing energy needs with a boom in the industry, it becomes important to control our dependence on fossil fuels. Therefore, such inventive schemes become conducive to long-term and viable developments. While this NTPC project is praiseworthy, the country requires more such initiatives that use renewable sources of energy.