Auto Expo 2012: M&M unveils India's first hydrogen-powered vehicle

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd today unveiled 'HyAlfa', the first ever hydrogen-powered three-wheeler, at the 11th Auto Expo in New Delhi today.

The vehicle has been jointly developed with the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, with funding from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation's International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies.

The vehicle uses hydrogen, a carbon-free and sulphur-free fuel whose by-product is only water. It also offers a fuel efficiency of 80 km per kg of hydrogen.

Part of a technology development project, called `DelHy 3W', with support from the ministry of new and renewable energy, the vehicle took three years to complete.

Mahindra has come out with a fleet of 15 HyAlfas, which will run on an experimental basis at the Pragati Maidan, where a hydrogen refuelling station has also been set up.

Air Products of the US, a partner in the project, set up the refuelling station. India Trade Organisation Promotion (ITPO) will be using the vehicles.