India is working towards establishing common standards for hydrogen-powered truck engines, with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) collaborating with the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) to develop and standardise hydrogen engine powertrains and related testing procedures.

The initiative focuses on heavy-duty freight applications and aims to establish technical requirements for hydrogen-powered alternatives to diesel engines. The standards are still under development and have not yet been made mandatory.

The initiative reportedly focuses on hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) powertrains, with ARAI working on a direct-injection hydrogen engine for heavy trucks. Its scope also includes the development of testing protocols for both H2-ICE and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles (H2FCV).

Diesel-powered commercial vehicles account for only about 5% of India's road-going vehicle fleet but contribute more than a third of the transport sector's carbon emissions. This makes heavy-duty vehicles a key focus of efforts to reduce vehicular pollution and improve air quality, particularly during the winter months, when pollution levels in cities such as Delhi become a major concern. Decarbonising freight transport is also an important part of India's broader target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

The two hydrogen technologies offer different approaches to reducing emissions. H2-ICE engines use hydrogen as fuel in an internal combustion engine configuration similar to that of conventional diesel engines, while H2FCVs convert hydrogen into electricity to power electric motors.

ARAI's FY2026 annual report outlines the scope of the work, including the development of a direct-injection hydrogen engine and testing procedures for both technologies. The initiative forms part of the Rs. 197.44 billion (US$ 2.11 billion) National Green Hydrogen Mission, which was approved in January 2023 to establish India as a global hub for green hydrogen production, use and exports. Transport is among the sectors targeted under the mission. Separately, the Rs. 259.38 billion production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for automobiles and auto parts supports fuel-cell vehicles, with eligible automakers able to claim incentives until FY2029.

Several Indian manufacturers, including Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, have already introduced hydrogen-powered truck models. The government has also expanded trials of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Five fuel-cell buses operated in Leh during 2023-24, while fuel-cell buses were also trialled in Delhi-NCR in 2023. In March 2025, pilot projects involving 37 hydrogen-powered buses and trucks across 10 routes were announced. These initiatives remain at the testing stage and do not yet represent commercial deployment. On November 4th, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari described hydrogen as the "fuel of the future".

However, the availability and cost of hydrogen remain significant challenges. India produces approximately 6.5 million tons of hydrogen annually, most of which is derived from fossil fuels and classified as grey hydrogen. Green hydrogen production capacity stood at 8,000 tons per year as of February 2026, according to information shared by Minister of State Shripad Yesso Naik in the Rajya Sabha. The availability and cost of electrolysers continue to constrain the expansion of green hydrogen production.

A 2023 study by the Principal Scientific Adviser tested a hydrogen internal combustion engine truck on the Delhi-Jaipur corridor, where it achieved a fuel efficiency of 8.1 km per kilogram of hydrogen. Based on this performance, a truck covering 60,000-70,000 km annually would require approximately 7.4-8.6 tons of hydrogen.

Sharif Qamar of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) welcomed the standardisation initiative, stating that it would establish minimum requirements and benchmarks for both hydrogen powertrain technologies. He noted that most such engines remain confined to pilot projects and added that the development of refuelling infrastructure along highway corridors would be crucial to their wider adoption.

While the proposed standards would establish the technical groundwork for hydrogen-powered trucks in India, their introduction alone would not ensure widespread deployment. Progress would also depend on the availability of affordable green hydrogen and the development of reliable refuelling networks to support heavy-duty transport operations.