Tata Motors sets up 2 R&D facilities on H2 fuel tech, including ICE

Tata Motors on Monday unveiled two research and development (R&D) facilities, aimed at advancing hydrogen fuel technologies, at its Pune centre.

In January this year, Tata Motors set an ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045. The company is focusing on three technologies -- battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2ICE) -- to achieve this target.

The company said the unveiling of these two R&D facilities marks another step toward achieving carbon neutrality and harnessing the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy source.

The new facilities include an engine test cell for H2ICE development and the necessary infrastructure for storing and dispensing hydrogen fuel for fuel cell and H2ICE vehicles.

Indian passenger vehicle makers sold 2.07 million units in the first half of 2023-24. Tata Motors, India's third-largest PV maker, sold 284,127 units in this period, representing about a 14 per cent share of total PV sales in the country.

In September, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of road transport and highways, announced that the government was considering a 10 per cent “pollution tax” on diesel vehicles. However, he reversed his stance after auto stocks plunged that day.

Gadkari also urged companies to increase their investment in R&D and production of vehicles powered by alternative fuels like hydrogen.