In an attempt to counter the fuel challenges of the future and come up with an alternate fuel system for the automobile sector, five of the top Indian automobile manufacturers have joined hands to participate in a first-of-its-kind project to create an optimal mix of hydrogen and compressed natural gas (CNG).

Rivals like Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ashok Leyland and Eicher Motors have joined hands under the umbrella of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in order to come up with a fuel mix which can be used in existing as well as future vehicles.

The world over, vehicle makers are looking for ways to use hydrogen fuel in new products, but this project seeks to develop the CNG-hydrogen mixture (called Hithane) for use in the existing on-road fleet of vehicles with minimum modifications in the engine and engine components.

Hithane not only reduces dependence on foreign oil, but also cuts down on NOX (nitrous oxide) emissions and helps achieve better fuel efficiency. In a hydrogen engine, electricity generated from solar power is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Oxygen is released into the atmosphere, while hydrogen is liquefied and stored at a very low temperature (-253 °C). During internal combustion, the hydrogen combines with oxygen and the resulting energy powers the vehicle, while the hydrogen is returned to the environment as water.