India’s First Hydrogen-Powered Train Officially Begins Operations
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country’s first hydrogen-powered train on November 17 at Rewari station in Haryana. The 10-coach train will operate on an 89-kilometer route between Rewari and Sonipat, offering two daily round trips. During the ceremony, Modi stated that this achievement demonstrates India’s technological capabilities under the 'Make in India' initiative and predicted that hydrogen would power 21st-century railways, just as diesel and electricity dominated the 20th century.
Indian Railways announced that the hydrogen train has a design speed of 110 kilometers per hour but is currently limited to 75 kilometers per hour. The source and production method of the hydrogen fuel have not been disclosed, nor have key details such as research and development costs or passenger capacity. India’s railway network spans nearly 70,000 kilometers and is almost fully electrified, yet the government has set a 2030 target for net-zero railway emissions.
Air Pollution Crisis Drives Transportation Transition
India’s air pollution crisis continues to worsen, particularly during the peak pollution season from November to February, when New Delhi’s air quality index often reaches hazardous levels. According to data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), PM2.5 pollution caused 17,188 deaths in New Delhi in 2023, accounting for 15% of the city’s total deaths that year. In response, the Indian government has accelerated efforts to transition its transportation sector, with the hydrogen train launch being one such initiative.
In late June, the Delhi government announced a scrappage subsidy policy for electric vehicles, set to begin trials in July. Under the policy, owners of cars purchased before April 1, 2020, who scrap their old vehicles and switch to electric cars will receive a subsidy of approximately 1,060 USD (34,000 TWD). Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, through a spokesperson, stated that a comprehensive four-year plan has been drafted, allocating 150 billion INR (approximately 51.2 billion TWD) to subsidize electric cars, motorcycles, and small trucks, while also expanding EV charging infrastructure.