Mumbai, February 26 Tata Motors will deploy 40 heavy-duty trucks powered by green hydrogen at Tuticorin's VO Chidambaranar Port under an initial agreement with the VOCPA, a statement said on Thursday.
As part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed with the VO Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) in the presence of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, Tata Motors will begin trials with a hydrogen-powered prime mover, followed by the phased deployment of H2 ICE-powered prime movers over the next two years.
The fleet for the project includes the Tata Motors Prima 55-tonne prime mover, engineered for sustainable, cost-effective, and high-performance transportation, it said, adding that the Ministry-funded project underscores the Central Government's commitment to accelerating the adoption of green energy and building a sustainable, future-ready maritime ecosystem.
"This collaboration marks an important milestone in bringing hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucking into real-world port operations. Over the past several months, we have worked closely with the port authorities to assess pathways for hydrogen trucks in cargo handling applications," said Rajesh Kaul, Vice President and business head for trucks at Tata Motors Ltd.
This pilot project will help demonstrate the potential of assessing the total cost of ownership (TCO) parity and with green hydrogen in supporting the transition of India's ports towards cleaner and more sustainable logistics solutions, he added.
"Our partnership with Tata Motors marks a transformative step in VOC Port's push to achieve net-zero emissions. The deployment of green hydrogen-powered trucks will significantly decarbonize our cargo handling operations while setting a benchmark for sustainable port-led logistics in India," said Susanta Kumar Purohit, Chairman of VOCPA.
To support the phased induction of these green hydrogen trucks, he said, the port is also progressing plans to establish a 2-MW electrolyser and a dedicated hydrogen refueling station.
This project, along with various other initiatives related to green fuels, reinforces the Port's commitment towards building a robust green hydrogen ecosystem and positioning the facility as a leader in sustainable maritime infrastructure, Purohit said.
