Gadkari arrives at parliament in hydrogen-powered car Toyota Mirai

New Delhi: To promote clean energy in the country, the Union Minister for Roads, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, arrived at Parliament House by hydrogen-powered car, “Toyota Mirai” first of its kind in India on Wednesday.

The Union Minister recently launched India’s first hydrogen-based advanced fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) at his residence in New Delhi.

“India will soon become a green hydrogen exporting country.” In line with PM Shri @ Narendra Modi ji’s vision of clean and cutting-edge mobility in India, our government, through the “National Hydrogen Mission,” is committed to focusing on green and clean energy, “he tweeted.

Expressing confidence that its benefits will support a hydrogen-based society for India, Gadkari assured that Green Hydrogen will be manufactured in India and Green Hydrogen refuelling stations will be established, generating sustainable employment opportunities in the country.

To become ‘Aatmanirbhar’, we’ve introduced green hydrogen, which is generated from water. This car is a pilot project. “Now, manufacturing of green hydrogen will begin in the country, imports will be curbed and new employment opportunities will be created,” he said.

The project has been initiated by Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd and the International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT) on a pilot basis, to study and evaluate the world’s most advanced fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), the Toyota Mirai, which runs on hydrogen, on Indian roads and climatic conditions.

This is a first-of-its-kind project in India that aims to create a green hydrogen-based ecosystem in the country by creating awareness about the unique utility of green hydrogen and FCEV technology.

During the launch of Pilot project, Toyota Kirloskar said, “We at Toyota are committed towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Our key goal is to achieve net-zero carbon (CO2) emission throughout the entire lifecycle that goes well beyond vehicles, addressing our entire value-chain including manufacturing activities.

Toyota has launched the pilot in collaboration with the International Centre for Automotive Technology – India’s state-run automotive testing, certification and R&D service organisation based in Gurugram.

Now in its second generation, the sedan is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, which generates electric power using on-board hydrogen. On a full tank, the Mirai can go up to a claimed 600 kilometres.