New Delhi: India took a decisive step toward accelerating its clean energy transition as Union Ministers highlighted green hydrogen as the “fuel of the future,” reaffirming its central role in shaping the country’s upcoming energy landscape. At a high-level event, the government announced a major collaboration with Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), including the handover of the Toyota Mirai — a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) — to the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) for extensive real-world testing.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said green hydrogen is emerging globally as the backbone of future energy systems and emphasized that such partnerships strengthen India’s Energy Aatma Nirbharta. “This collaboration brings innovation, industry expertise and scientific rigour to India’s clean energy transition,” he said, adding that hydrogen-based mobility aligns strongly with India’s Panchamrit climate commitments.
Calling the Toyota Mirai “a new chapter for sustainable mobility,” the Minister noted that its Japanese name—meaning “Future”—perfectly symbolizes India’s aspiration for a clean, green and sustainable transport ecosystem.
Under the MoU, NISE will conduct a comprehensive two-year evaluation of the Mirai across India’s varied terrain, weather and traffic environments. The findings will help policymakers, industry and academia understand the practical potential of hydrogen mobility nationwide.
The Minister highlighted that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are silent, clean and emission-free—releasing only water—and are increasingly powering transportation systems across the world, from cars and buses to trains and ships. “By personally driving the hydrogen vehicle, I want to send a clear message that hydrogen mobility is ready and well-suited for Indian conditions,” Joshi added.
He also commended Toyota for its commitment to carbon neutrality and praised NISE’s leadership, stating, “With this vehicle, we are launching not just an MoU but confidence, cooperation and commitment to a clean and sustainable future.”
Minister of State for New & Renewable Energy, Shripad Yesso Naik, said the initiative marks a major milestone in India’s clean and self-reliant energy journey. He noted that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has made unprecedented progress in energy transition—particularly with the launch of the National Green Hydrogen Mission in January 2023.
“Real-world testing of FCEV technology such as the Toyota Mirai demonstrates India’s rapid movement from policy to experimentation and further toward commercialization,” he said. The Minister expressed confidence that the pilot project will pave the way for wider adoption of hydrogen-based transportation, contributing to cleaner air and sustainable growth.
He also applauded the strong collaboration between industry, research institutions and government, saying NISE’s technical assessment will generate vital insights for scaling up hydrogen mobility solutions.
Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President of Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said the partnership reinforces Toyota’s commitment to supporting India’s Green Hydrogen Mission.
“This collaboration reaffirms our dedication to accelerating India’s transition toward future mobility powered by green and indigenous energy sources,” he said. “We believe hydrogen fuel-cell technology will play a pivotal role in helping India achieve its net-zero commitments and energy independence.”
