From the Editorial Desk IGHA – Hyvolution India 2026 – 24 August, 2026
Sometimes an interview leaves you with one number.
In the recent conversation with Akashvani News, DMR Panda, Executive Director, NTPC–Renewable Energy, spoke about the work underway in hydrogen mobility. Among the details he shared, one stood out immediately: a hydrogen-powered bus capable of travelling up to 720 km on a single fill.
For those following India’s green hydrogen journey, this deserves attention. Not because 720 km settles the hydrogen-versus-battery debate—it doesn’t—but because we are finally getting closer to seeing what hydrogen mobility can actually do on Indian roads.
Five buses. But this is really about what we learn from them.
Mr. Panda said that five hydrogen-powered buses are currently being fuelled.
Five buses will obviously not transform India’s transport system. But that isn’t the point at this stage.
Run them. Put kilometres on them. See how they behave in Indian conditions. Measure hydrogen consumption, refuelling time, maintenance, reliability and operating cost.
That evidence will be far more valuable to the industry than another projection of what hydrogen mobility might look like in 2030.
The Government’s own mobility programme under the National Green Hydrogen Mission is moving in precisely this direction, with five pilot projects covering 37 hydrogen buses and trucks and nine refuelling stations across ten routes.
720 km changes the nature of the conversation
The 720-km range mentioned by Mr. Panda is particularly interesting when we look beyond city mobility.
India doesn’t need hydrogen to replace every EV.
For a scooter travelling 30 km a day? Probably not the obvious application.
For a city car with access to overnight charging? Again, batteries already make a compelling case.
But a bus or truck that has to cover hundreds of kilometres, spend as little time as possible refuelling and remain on the road for long hours presents a different problem.
That is where hydrogen becomes worth watching.
The STP-water detail should not be missed
Mr. Panda also made a point that could easily get lost behind the 720-km headline.
No groundwater is being used for hydrogen production at the facility; treated sewage water is being used instead.
This matters.
As India’s green hydrogen capacity grows, the conversation around water cannot be an afterthought. Hydrogen may be clean at the point of use, but how we produce it—and what resources we use in doing so—will determine how sustainable the larger ecosystem really is.
Using treated wastewater is therefore more than an operational detail. It is an approach worth studying as projects scale.
Now comes the difficult question: what does a kilometre cost?
This is where I think the discussion needs to go next.
Range is important. Technology performance is important. But ultimately a fleet operator will ask a much simpler question:
What does it cost me to run this vehicle every kilometre?
Hydrogen production, compression, storage, transportation, dispensing, vehicle cost and infrastructure all enter that calculation.
The National Green Hydrogen Mission itself describes these mobility pilots as a way to test not only technical performance but also economic viability under real-world operating conditions.
That is exactly what the industry now needs.
And this conversation should not stop with the pilot
What Mr. Panda has spoken about opens up several larger questions.
Where should India’s first commercially viable hydrogen mobility corridors be built? Should they develop around ports, logistics hubs and industrial clusters? Can hydrogen produced for steel, refining or fertilisers also support nearby freight mobility? What infrastructure needs to come first? And at what hydrogen price does a fleet owner begin to seriously consider changing technologies?
These are not questions one company can answer alone.
They need vehicle manufacturers, hydrogen producers, technology companies, infrastructure developers, fleet operators, investors and policymakers sitting across the same table.
That is also where IGHA – Hyvolution India 2026 can play a useful role. The Assembly and exhibition are bringing these parts of the hydrogen value chain together, with hydrogen mobility among the areas being addressed through its wider strategic and technical programme.
The event takes place on 17–18 November 2026 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR.
Explore IGHA – Hyvolution India 2026
Mr. Panda’s interview gives the industry a useful number to begin with: 720 km.
Now comes the more interesting part.
Can India make those kilometres affordable enough to scale?
That is the conversation worth having.
Source:
Akashvani News: https://newsonair.gov.in/national-green-hydrogen-mission-aims-to-position-india-as-global-green-hydrogen-hub/
NTPC Renewable Energy: https://ntpcrel.co.in/
MNRE: https://mnre.gov.in/
NGHM: https://nghm.mnre.gov.in/
FAQs
1. How far can NTPC’s hydrogen-powered buses travel on a single fill?
According to DMR Panda, Executive Director, NTPC–Renewable Energy, the hydrogen-powered buses can travel up to 720 km on a single fill, making range one of the most interesting aspects of the trial.
2. How many hydrogen buses are currently being fuelled?
Mr. Panda stated in his Akashvani News interview that five hydrogen-powered buses are currently being fuelled as part of the initiative.
3. Is groundwater being used to produce hydrogen for these buses?
No. Mr. Panda specifically highlighted that groundwater is not being used. Treated water from a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is being utilised for hydrogen production.
4. Where could green hydrogen make the most sense in India’s mobility sector?
Hydrogen could be particularly relevant for buses, heavy-duty vehicles, long-haul freight and high-utilisation transport corridors, where range, payload and quick refuelling can become important operating considerations.
5. How can IGHA – Hyvolution India 2026 contribute to India’s hydrogen mobility journey?
IGHA – Hyvolution India 2026 can provide a platform for hydrogen producers, mobility companies, technology providers, infrastructure developers, policymakers and investors to discuss what comes after successful pilots—particularly cost, refuelling infrastructure, hydrogen corridors and commercial-scale deployment.