Demonstrating India’s push toward a cleaner transport ecosystem, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi recently took the wheel of a hydrogen-powered car, highlighting the government’s focus on alternative fuel technologies.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari shared a video on social media platform X showing himself accompanying Joshi on a short drive in the hydrogen vehicle. In the clip, Joshi is seen driving while Gadkari sits in the front passenger seat.
In his post, Gadkari congratulated Joshi for adopting hydrogen-based mobility, describing the experience as a glimpse into the future of sustainable transportation. He emphasised that hydrogen energy will be central to India’s clean energy transition and urged people to support green innovations as the country works toward its net-zero goals.
Gadkari, a long-time proponent of clean and efficient fuels, is no stranger to hydrogen technology himself. In March 2022, he made headlines by driving a hydrogen-powered vehicle to Parliament for the first time. That same month, he also unveiled the Toyota Mirai, regarded as one of the world’s most advanced green hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
India’s broader strategy focuses on cutting fossil fuel dependence, strengthening environmental protection, and achieving energy self-reliance by 2047. Hydrogen-powered Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles are viewed as a key component of this transition, as they produce zero tailpipe emissions other than water. Green hydrogen, generated from renewable energy sources and biomass, offers a sustainable pathway to cleaner mobility.
To assess the practicality of hydrogen vehicles in local conditions, the National Institute for Solar Energy (NISE) is currently carrying out detailed on-road testing of the Toyota Mirai across India. As part of a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2025 between NISE and Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the vehicle will be evaluated over two years in varied environments, including extreme heat, dusty roads, heavy traffic and diverse terrain.
According to the minister, the study is expected to provide valuable data to support the nationwide expansion of hydrogen mobility, while also building technical expertise, industry readiness and public confidence in hydrogen-based transportation.
