Reliance unveils India’s first hydrogen internal combustion engine

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), India’s largest private sector company, has unveiled India’s first hydrogen internal combustion engine (H₂ICE) technology solution for heavy duty trucks during India Energy Week being held in Bangalore, India, from February 6-8.

As the first major event under India’s G20 presidency, India Energy Week follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge at COP26 to reduce India’s emissions to net zero by 2070.

The hydrogen internal combustion engine-powered trucks will emit near zero emissions, deliver performance on par with conventional diesel trucks and reduce noise and with projected reductions in operating costs.

As part of its net carbon zero target, Reliance Industries Ltd., with its vehicle partner Ashok Leyland, and other technical partners have been developing this unique technology since last year with the first engines running in early 2022. 

Going forward, RIL will first extensively test and validate the H2ICE technology for heavy-duty trucks before its first commercial deployment at scale initially across its captive fleet. Simultaneously RIL is pursuing the opportunity to create an end-to-end hydrogen eco system for mobility.

India Energy Week was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, supported at the highest level of the Indian government, with participation from all the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and officially supported by the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI).