Hyundai Motors and Indian Oil Team Up on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Potential in India

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to begin on-road testing of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The agreement includes the use of one Hyundai Nexo vehicle, which has been handed over to IOC for the trial.

As of 9:38 AM on April 23, 2025, Hyundai Motor India share price was trading at ₹1,712.70, a 0.53% up, but down 2.92% over the past month and 9.97% over the past six months.

Two-Year Test Period

The testing will take place over a span of two years. During this time, the vehicle will be driven for about 40,000 km. The objective is to observe how the hydrogen-powered vehicle performs under everyday driving conditions in India.

Read more: Hyundai Motor India to Raise Car Prices by Up to 3% from April 2025.

Cost and Maintenance Study Included

In addition to performance tracking, a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) study will be conducted. This will involve monitoring fuel consumption, maintenance requirements, and other operational aspects to gather data on long-term usage.

India currently lacks a full-fledged hydrogen refuelling network. The ongoing test may offer information that could help in planning for related infrastructure in the future.

Research Collaboration with IIT Madras

Separately, HMIL is working with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) to set up a Hydrogen Innovation Centre. The facility is being developed to support testing and development by startups and manufacturers working with hydrogen components.

Other Companies Also Testing Hydrogen Vehicles

Tata Motors has already started trials with hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks. These trials are also set to continue for two years. Ashok Leyland is in the process of developing its own hydrogen truck models, aiming for a release by October 2026. Mahindra & Mahindra has been working on early-stage projects in hydrogen mobility as well.

Conclusion

The HMIL-IOC collaboration adds to the list of hydrogen mobility trials currently underway in the country. The data gathered over the 40,000 km test will feed into future decisions around hydrogen vehicle use and infrastructure in India.

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