Amid confusion over the rollout of E20 fuel and its impact on vehicles, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that hydrogen is the fuel of the future and will eventually replace traditional fossil fuels like petrol and diesel. He emphasized that the future of transportation and industry will rest on electric vehicles, biofuels, and hydrogen-based energy.
Hydrogen to Power Trains and Aircraft
According to PTI, Gadkari highlighted that hydrogen will not remain limited to road transport but will also be used in railways and aviation. “Trains will run on hydrogen, airplanes will fly on hydrogen, and dependence on fossil fuels will end,” he said.
India’s Rising Automobile Market
India has recently overtaken Japan to become the world’s third-largest automobile market. Gadkari noted that the U.S. auto industry is valued at ₹78 lakh crore, China’s at ₹49 lakh crore, and India’s at ₹22 lakh crore. He added that Mercedes-Benz’s global chairman recently told him the company plans to manufacture electric Mercedes cars in India.
Impact on Environment and Development
Gadkari stressed that adopting electric, biofuel, and hydrogen technologies at scale will accelerate India’s path to carbon neutrality, create jobs, protect the environment, and boost economic growth.
Affordable Hydrogen Could Make India an Energy Exporter
Currently, hydrogen costs around $5–6 per kilogram, Gadkari said. If the price can be reduced to $1 per kilogram, India could achieve the status of an energy-exporting nation, similar to oil-producing countries.
Key Challenge: Infrastructure
The minister acknowledged that the biggest challenge in adopting hydrogen fuel is developing filling stations and supply networks. He said immediate, large-scale efforts are needed in these areas to make hydrogen energy viable.
000
