In India, when it comes to future vehicles, most of the discussion remains limited to electric cars, but now a new technology is slowly coming into discussion, which is called hydrogen car. Recently, Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari gifted a hydrogen car to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, after which this issue suddenly came into limelight.
This was not just a matter of giving a car, but it was a signal from the government that India is now working seriously on the technology of the future. The most talked about hydrogen car is the Toyota Mirai.
This is not an ordinary car, but is considered one of the most modern hydrogen cars in the world. It looks like a normal luxury car from outside, but the technology inside is completely different. It consumes neither petrol nor diesel nor does it need to be plugged into a charging plug.
How does a hydrogen car run?
If we understand in simple language, hydrogen gas is filled in the tank of this car. There is a special system inside the car, which is called fuel cell. In this, hydrogen and oxygen present in the air react with each other. Electricity is generated through this process and the same electricity runs the motor of the car. That means this car itself generates electricity and runs on that electricity. The most important thing is that in this process no smoke comes out, but only water comes out.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has been repeatedly saying that electric vehicles alone are not the solution for India. He believes that every year India imports a large quantity of petrol and diesel from abroad, on which a huge amount of money is spent. Along with this, pollution has also become a big problem.
India can make hydrogen fuel in its own country- Gadkari
Gadkari says that hydrogen is a fuel that India can produce in its own country, especially in the form of green hydrogen. This will not only reduce pollution, but India will also be able to become self-reliant in energy matters. However, it also needs to be understood that hydrogen cars are not yet available to the common people. This technology is currently under testing in India, the cars being shown are being used as pilot projects or demos.
The biggest challenge is regarding the facility of filling hydrogen. Today, petrol pumps are everywhere in the country and electric charging stations are also increasing, but hydrogen filling stations are almost non-existent. Apart from this, the price of hydrogen car is also quite high at present.
Hydrogen cars running in many countries
Hydrogen cars are already running in many countries of the world. Japan and South Korea are at the forefront in this field. There, the government itself is promoting hydrogen cars and separate stations have also been built for them. Whereas in some countries of America and Europe, hydrogen cars are being used on a limited scale, especially in government vehicles and special projects. This makes it clear that this technology is not new, but it is slowly progressing all over the world.
India’s approach towards hydrogen is long-term. The government’s focus is first on buses, trucks and heavy vehicles, because most diesel is spent on these. Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has said many times that if hydrogen-powered buses and trucks are successful, then the path to hydrogen cars will also become easier in future. The number of hydrogen-powered vehicles in India may increase in the coming five to 10 years, but this change will happen gradually.
Work on hydrogen train is also going on in India
Hydrogen is not limited to just cars. Work on hydrogen train is also going on in India. This train will run on a power system made of hydrogen instead of diesel, which can significantly reduce pollution in the railways. Such trains are already running in some countries of Europe and India is also now moving in this direction. Especially on those railway lines where electrification has not been done yet, hydrogen train can become a good option.
Overall, it would be correct to say about the hydrogen car that it is neither an urgent need of today nor a fantasy. This is preparation for the times to come. Nitin Gadkari’s introduction of hydrogen car is an indication that India wants to reduce its dependence on petrol and diesel in the future. Hydrogen cars, buses and trains together can open a new path towards clean and self-reliant transport in India, but it will require time, strong systems and huge investment.
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