You must be wondering, what exactly is hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) technology, and what is so good about it?  Hydrogen fuel is a clean fuel that is burned along with oxygen in an electrochemical power generator to generate electricity, and in the process, produces water and heat as by-products. What sets hydrogen fuel apart, however, is the fact that it serves as an alternative to diesel fuel in more ways than one: its fuel-cycle emits no pollutive exhaust, and through renewable energy, there contains no trace of greenhouse gas emissions. Vehicles that are powered by the hydrogen fuel cell, thus, significantly reduce our use and dependence on diesel oil and lower the chances of harmful emissions contributing to climate change. What started out as an experiment among startup companies and early projects is now dominating the commercial vehicle industry with many of the industry’s biggest players putting in large investments in the technology. 

How Does it Work?

Hydrogen fuel can be produced through several methods, and in the commercial vehicle industry, fuel is processed in a fuel cell that is composed of three main components: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. This type of fuel cell is called a Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, or also known as a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, which is mainly reserved for transport applications and stationary and portable fuel cell applications. The PEM fuel cell does its job by passing hydrogen through the anode, at which hydrogen molecules are split into electrons and protons. The former ones take the path of a circuit in the fuel cell to generate electric current and excess heat, while the protons go through the electrolyte membrane. At the same time, the PEM fuel cell passes oxygen from the surrounding air through the cathode on the other side, where the oxygen meets with the protons and electrons to produce water molecules. This does not get any simpler than your run-of-the-mill science experiment in school!

What Are Fuel Stacks Then?

What lies in the heart of a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) is the fuel cell stack. Because fuel cells generate less than 1.16 volts of electricity each, they must be assembled atop one another to create a fuel cell stack in order to generate enough power to run a vehicle. The potential power that can be generated by a fuel cell stack largely varies and is dependent on the number and the size of the individual fuel cells of the fuel cell stack, as well as the surface area of the PEM. 

The Preferred Alternative

Hydrogen fuel cell has been proven to yield positive results for both the environment and the wallet in the long term. 

Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Contrary to diesel fuel, which emits greenhouse gases (GHGs) and carbon dioxide (CO2) that are large contributors to climate change, the only by-products of vehicles–when fueled by pure hydrogen–are heat and water with the release of zero tailpipe GHGs. While it is possible for FCVs to still generate GHGs, depending on the production method, the GHGs emitted is still far less great than those emitted by gasoline and diesel fuel. FCVs also eliminate the maintenance costs that come with storing diesel fuel that may prove harmful later on. Many of the industry’s big players make use of environmentally benign hydrogen in their hydrogen fuel cell products to eliminate and prevent the harmful impact of fuel spillage or leaks and air pollution. 

Cutback on Vehicle Oil Dependence

Many companies have incorporated hydrogen fuel cells in their corporate sustainability programmes, and the industry is seeing a shift of focus from diesel fuel to environmentally friendly alternatives. With the industry soon to be saturated with FCVs, our dependence on foreign oil will be significantly reduced and eventually eradicated. Hydrogen can be extracted sustainably from domestic sources, such as natural gas and coal, as well as from renewable sources, such as water, biogas, and agricultural waste. From an economic perspective, this would allow us to be less affected by oil price hikes and drops in the volatile oil market. 

Lowering of Operational Costs

Hydrogen fuel cells require little to no maintenance as they eliminate the need to change, charge, and manage batteries, a maintenance check that is necessary for batteries, internal combustion generators, and the like. Hydrogen fuel cell units have a longer running time than do lead-acid batteries and, when power is running low, would not take more than five minutes to refuel. Companies that employ FCVs in their fleet benefit substantially from this as it reduces vehicle and personnel time, giving birth to a higher efficiency rate. This loss of regular maintenance saves not only money but labour, time, and the space for battery rooms as maintenance checks require optimal conditions. 

Increase in Energy Efficiency

 Hydrogen fuel cells are well known to be more energy-efficient than other forms of power. When a fuel cell vehicle is fueled by pure hydrogen, the hydrogen fuel cell has the potential to be up to 80-percent efficient. This means that the fuel cell converts up to 80 percent of the energy content of the hydrogen into electrical energy. The electric motor and inverter of the vehicle thus have the responsibility to convert that electrical energy into mechanical energy, with an average of 80 percent efficiency. Combined, this gives an overall 64-percent of increased efficiency when a vehicle is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell!

Increase in Durability and Reliability

Hydrogen fuel cells are notably more robust than other forms of fuel and can weather all types of conditions, from cold environments to harsh storms. This makes fuel cells a reliable asset to companies that engage commercial vehicles in tough environments. Additionally, because they do not have any moving parts, hydrogen fuel cells operate quietly even in the midst of a snowstorm! 

With environmentally friendly applications and time-consuming maintenance, we are beginning to see the boom of hydrogen fuel cell technology in the commercial vehicle industry, and with good reason! (MT)

(Credits / Sources: U.S Energy Information Administration, Hydrogenics, Toyota, Verdict Media, Stanford University, University of Nebraska, Fuel Economy, Plug Power) 

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle major Ather Energy has announced that its fast-charging network ‘Ather Grid’ has surpassed 400 charging points across Tamil Nadu. This expansion aims to alleviate range anxiety for EV owners and support the growing adoption of electric vehicles in the state.

With charging stations now in 38 cities, including tourist destinations like Coonoor and Rameswaram, the network connects key travel routes such as Coimbatore to Bengaluru and Chennai to Pondicherry. The company also noted that a total of 480 fast charging points are available in the state, which includes over 50 LECCS (Light Electric Combined Charging System) chargers. Developed by Ather, the LECCS standard allows different brands of light EVs to use the same charging network.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Tamil Nadu has been one of our earliest markets and ever since we entered the state in 2019, we have been investing in building a reliable charging network there. Charging has often been seen as one of the key barriers, and it’s something we’ve focused on solving from day one. Crossing 400 fast chargers in Tamil Nadu is a reflection of that commitment. It’s about giving riders the confidence that a charger is never too far away. As our retail footprint grows, the charging network will continue to scale alongside it, making EV ownership truly seamless.”

The company has partnered with local businesses like Coffee Day Global and Ganga Sweets to deploy these charging points. This expansion is part of Ather's broader national effort, which has seen the establishment of over 3,300 fast-charging points across India. The chargers can provide up to 15 kilometres of range in just 10 minutes, making it more convenient for riders on the go.

In addition to its charging infrastructure, Ather maintains a strong presence in the state with 44 experience centres and 42 service centres in 35 cities, offering comprehensive sales and after-sales support.

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Bengaluru-headquartered premium electric two-wheeler company Ultraviolette Automotive has announced a strategic investment from TDK Ventures, the venture capital arm of Japan’s TDK Corporation, along with participation from backing from existing investors Zoho Corporation and Lingotto (previously Exor Capital), among others.

With this TDK Ventures joins the likes of Qualcomm Ventures, Zoho Corporation, Speciale Invest, Lingotto (Formerly Exor Capital), and TVS Motor Company as a strategic investor in the EV company. It also counts the likes of Sriharsha Majety (Co-founder & CEO, Swiggy), Ankit Nagori (Co-founder, Cure Foods; former Chief Business Officer, Flipkart), Aprameya Radhakrishna (Co-founder, TaxiForSure), and Dulquer Salmaan (renowned actor and automotive enthusiast) among its early backers.

At present, Ultraviolette sells the F77 electric motorcycle and is gearing up to expand its product offerings along with manufacturing, research and distribution network globally.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, “Mobility is undergoing a radical transformation, and at Ultraviolette, we are leading that change through cutting-edge innovation. Our partnership with TDK Ventures fast forwards our efforts, from advanced battery platforms to intelligent vehicle systems. This collaboration not only accelerates our vision of future ready mobility but also reinforces our commitment to delivering electric vehicles that are aspirational and globally relevant.”

Niraj Rajmohan, CTO and Co-founder of Ultraviolette, said, “Through this partnership with TDK Ventures, Ultraviolette will continue to innovate in deep-tech to shape the future of mobility. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries in building safer, smarter, and a more efficient electric mobility eco-system.”

Ravi Jain, Investment Director, TDK Ventures, said, “We look forward to bringing our TDK Goodness to Ultraviolette and their ambitious plan to design the next generation of energy efficient and performance EV 2W platforms. TDK Ventures is excited to support Ultraviolette in their relentless pursuit of growing their global reach."

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In a significant step toward creating a global ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) ecosystem, Geely Holding Group’s aerospace subsidiary, Geespace, successfully launched 11 new satellites into orbit on 9 August 2025. The launch took place in Shandong Province, China, and marks the fourth successful orbital deployment for the company's Geely Future Mobility Constellation (GEESATCOM).

With this latest launch, Geespace now operates 41 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), bringing it closer to its goal of having 72 satellites in operation by end-2025. The company plans to accelerate deployments over the next two months to reach 64 operational satellites, which will establish comprehensive global satellite IoT coverage.

The GEESATCOM project is a key part of Geely's vision to build an integrated space and earth mobility ecosystem. The LEO satellite network is designed to provide highly reliable, wide-coverage communication services for various strategic industries, including:

• Connected vehicles and urban air mobility
• Emergency response and maritime operations
• Energy infrastructure

This network will support advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and connected vehicle platforms by providing crucial data for precision positioning and connectivity. Geespace has already established partnerships with telecom operators in over 20 countries and its proprietary satellite communication chips and high-precision positioning modules are now in mass production across Geely's vehicle portfolio.

To further demonstrate the technology, Geely is providing high-precision positioning and emergency satellite communications for official vehicles at the World Games 2025 Chengdu, showcasing the practical applications of its satellite infrastructure in real-world scenarios.

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Kia India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer in the country, has signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with ASDC (Automotive Skill Development Council) to promote automotive skill training in the country.

The partnership will promote a 30-day training model module combining classroom-based theoretical learning and practical on-the-job experience. The course includes 15 days of foundational training at ASDC-certified training centers covering core automotive concepts and dealership functions. In addition, it will also feature Kia-specific process to familiarise candidates with brand standards, systems and product knowledge. The curriculum will provide students with 15 days of experiential learning at authorised Kia dealerships under expert supervision.

Joonsu Cho, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “This collaboration with ASDC represents a pivotal step in Kia India’s commitment to shaping a future-ready ecosystem, one that is anchored in skilled human capital and elevated customer experience. By creating a robust talent pool through structured training and certification, we are not only empowering India’s youth with meaningful employment but also reinforcing our dealer network with professionals who embody Kia’s values of quality, care, and innovation. Ultimately, this initiative will translate into a more seamless, informed, and rewarding journey for every Kia customer across the country.”

The co-developed learning model aims to provide candidates with the technical know-how and workplace readiness to be effective from day one. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will undergo an evaluation at the ASDC centre, get certificate jointly awarded by Kia India and ASDC, and eligible for the direct recruitment by Kia dealerships into Sales and Service roles.

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