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MP Prahlad Joshi recently reached Parliament House in a hydrogen car. After this the discussion started whether hydrogen would go ahead of electric and become the flag bearer of future mobility. But before thinking like this, it is important to understand that as bright as the future of hydrogen cars looks, the present is very complex and expensive.
New Delhi. Enthusiasm regarding hydrogen cars is increasing rapidly across India. From tech companies to auto brands, it is being described as the next revolutionary technology. People have also started considering it as a better option than both petrol and electric. But the real question is that after buying a hydrogen car, how much will it cost to run it daily and is it easy to keep it in India right now or not? The Indian government is working on a plan to greatly reduce the price of hydrogen by 2030. Many companies are setting up big plants and cars like Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo are already running on common roads in the world. But the ground reality of India is a little different. Therefore it is important to understand the range, expenses and problems.
Most hydrogen cars run 100 to 120 kilometers on 1 kg of hydrogen. At present the price of hydrogen in India is around Rs 420 to Rs 460 per kg, which is reflected in the price of hydrogen being put in the trial buses of Delhi. According to this, the cost of driving 100 kilometers comes to around Rs 350 to Rs 400. Meaning, the cost of driving 1 kilometer is around Rs 3.5 to Rs 4.
compared to the rest
This cost is less than petrol, but more than electric. How much cheaper is petrol compared to a car? The price of petrol in India is around Rs 100 per litre. A typical petrol car gives a mileage of 15 to 20 kilometers per litre. This means that the cost of 1 kilometer comes between Rs 5 to Rs 7. This means that hydrogen cars are cheaper than petrol cars and can be attractive for those traveling long distances.
Why are electric cars becoming expensive? In India, electric cars run for Rs 1 to Rs 2 per kilometer. That means hydrogen is a little more expensive than EV at present. But two big advantages are making it an option for the future. First, the range is quite high. Second, refilling is done in just 3 to 5 minutes. For those traveling long distances, it becomes more convenient than electric.
What are Delhi’s hydrogen buses showing?
Currently two hydrogen buses are running on trial in Delhi. The hydrogen being put into these is priced between Rs 420 to Rs 460 per kg. Because buses are heavier, the cost per kilometer is higher than cars. The government has not released any final data yet, but the purpose of the trial is to find out what will be the real operating cost of hydrogen.
How much can expenses decrease in future?
India’s target is to bring the price of green hydrogen to Rs 150 to Rs 180 per kg by 2030. If this happens then the cost of driving 1 kilometer can come up to Rs 1.5. That means hydrogen cars will compete with electric cars and completely overtake petrol. Reliance, Adani and many PSU companies are making big investments in the country. If production, storage and supply system of hydrogen becomes cheaper on a large scale, India can rapidly shift towards hydrogen.
Why are hydrogen cars the future?
- Range is more than electric.
- Refilling is much faster than EV.
- No pollution comes out.
- This technology is suitable for long distance cars, trucks, buses and trains.
- Many countries of the world are considering it as the next big energy revolution for trucks, buses, aircraft and industrial fleets.
Will buy, but the challenge is big
Hydrogen cars definitely show the way to the future, but today it is difficult to use them on a daily basis in India. The biggest problem is the network of refill stations which is very limited till now. The price is also high and the technology is in the initial stage. The future clearly belongs to hydrogen, but at present the electric car remains the easy and cheap option for the common people. Hydrogen cars will be great for those who need long range and can wait a few years for both the network and the price to normalize.
