Tata-ISRO joint venture working on hydrogen-powered vehicle

Mumbai: Tata Motors, the country''s largest automobile maker, is working with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on a prototype of a hydrogen-powered vehicle. A prototype of the world''s cleanest vehicle, which will run on hydrogen and leave behind only a trail of water vapour, is expected to be unveiled next year. The two have signed an agreement for the pilot project to see whether hydrogen can be used to fuel automobiles and work has already started, ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair told a conference in Bangalore. "If we succeed, we can have bulk transportation system. Even cars to an extent can switch over to hydrogen fuel cell", Nair, who is also secretary in the department of space, said. "We are working with Tatas to see how best proto model can be put on road by next year. Hydrogen use, storage and handling etc, we will take care from whatever we know and the Tatas are good at making best cars", he told reporters on the sidelines of a conference. The proposed vehicle would use ISRO`s rocket technology. It would not have an engine and would be completely electricity-driven. The vehicle would have hydrogen storage and regulatory and control systems, and would use electricity generated from fuel cells. "Hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen will combine together in the fuel cell and electricity will be produced", he said, adding, these vehicles would emit only water vapour. "We know how to handle hydrogen. It is going to be the fuel for the next generation. Even in India, there are a number of plans where hydrogen is coming as a by-product, which is not being utilised properly. So, if we can collect it and serve it, it can become a good source (of fuel) for automobiles," Nair said. However, he said, the major hurdle is the fuel cell technology "where we have not matured yet, we are trying to get some modules from outside."