An exclusive interview with Prof. L.M. Das, Emeritus Professor, IIT Delhi, on the sidelines of ECT-2016
In a long-winding discussion with MOTORINDIA on the sidelines of ECT-2016, Prof. L.M. Das, Emeritus Professor, IIT Delhi, spoke in detail about the hydrogen vehicle development in which IIT spent a lot of time and energy. He went into the technicalities of the venture and found it absolutely essential to have alternate fuels for vehicles in the emerging scenario.
Excerpts:
Please tell us about the hydrogen bus development project by IIT?
At IIT Delhi, we were working on low emission alternate fuels for internal combustion engine for vehicles and gensets. So hydrogen has been our thrust area for 20-30 years. So we have evolved various configurations of hydrogen engines. We have already developed three-wheelers in collaboration with Mahindra and Mahindra and Air Products Inc. USA. We have also developed a minibus by Mahindra operated by hydrogen. The engine optimization has already been configured in IIT Delhi. The governing and operating parameters have all been set out. It has already been put in Mahindra’s vehicles and trial runs have been done. So we are able to develop a zero-emission vehicle right now. So all the problems like PM 2.5, etc., are practically absent. The main problem is the economic viability of hydrogen production and a lot of work is being carried out.
Where is the trial run for the bus going on?
The trial run for the bus is going on under the able guidance of Dr. Aravind Bharadwaj at MRV, Chennai.
So it is only a single prototype you have developed so far?
There are two buses that have been developed, and this is the project run by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) which has been funding IIT Delhi since 1980. Under the project, we have set a target of running a particular range of km to demonstrate to the people that hydrogen can be a regular transportation fuel providing zero emission configurations. After the main research work in the engine optimisation is over, it has been installed in the vehicles.
What about the Government’s approval for the vehicles to be on the road?
Since hydrogen is not a regularly accepted alternate fuel, you need a patio approval by the Government. For three-wheelers, we have already got the approval to run it in Pragati Maidan since January 2012. There are about 15 three-wheelers from Mahindra still running there. Initially funded by UNIDO, now MNRE has also joined hands. We are able to ply 80 km for 1 kg of hydrogen.
What about commercial application of these vehicles? How much is the amount of hydrogen required?
The commercial application of these vehicles depends on the economic viability of the product as an adequate amount of hydrogen should be produced so that it can be diverted to the transport sector. In terms of costs, a lot depends on the method of hydrogen propulsion. If you go for electrolysis, it will be very expensive. Right now, the stations at IOC Research Centre, Faridabad and at Dwarka are electrolysis-based. Bio-hydrogen, gasification, etc., are all options that have been tried. I think once we fix a goal, we will take a decision.
Do you think there is a commercial viability for hydrogen-powered vehicles in India?
Yes, I am 100% sure about that. In fact, after our three-wheelers were demonstrated, it was discussed in UNIDO, Vienna. I was also invited to Sri Lanka because they were thinking of replicating this project but they have some problems of hydrogen production. It has also sent a very strong signal all over the world because everything is now emission-driven. So once you are able to control the (vehicular) pollution then that is the ideal system. Then obviously once you fix a target, you develop all your methods in an economically feasible manner.
Going forward, what are the investments required for hydrogen vehicle model development?
The vehicle development doesn’t need much investments. It is only the production which is important. The development process for such vehicles is already happening. This is because you are not redesigning the engine but optimising the operating conditions. You need to develop injection systems, ECU, etc., for these vehicles.
What actually motivated institutions like IIT to go ahead with futuristic technologies like hydrogen?
We have been working on hydrogen since 1980. People asked me why we are working on something which will not come during your lifetime. But as the emphasis on hydrogen was realized in view of its non-polluting characteristics, the industry is also gravitated towards it. For the World Hydrogen Conference, the number of representatives from India have doubled to 12. This is a massive improvement. In India, there is an increase in awareness and we adopt the mechanism in reaching our goals in a very aggressive manner. The series of steps of starting with a simple catalytic converter to the phasing out of the old vehicles to the bio-diesel vehicles have all startled the entire world. In a span of 15-20 years we have been able to do it very successfully.
Can we see some commercial operations of hydrogen vehicles in the next few years?
Yes, I am sure about that, because the main aspect of technically developing a hydrogen vehicle has been sorted out. The emission aspects have been evaluated to be proven. Efficiency and fuel consumption go in favour of hydrogen. It is the production of hydrogen which is expensive. A lot of institutions are working on it, and I am sure this will be done within a few years. Moreover, hydrogen can be produced from a number of sources. Bi-hydrogen is one of them. Gasification appropriately done is another good area to work upon.
Another interesting development is that we have the electro mobility Mission Plan. Will hydrogen be part of that plan of the Government?
Yes, absolutely. This is because now we have that National Hydro Mobility Board and MNRE is the nodal agency. The industry, oil companies, academia, etc., have joined hands making it a unique combination of all the stakeholders. It is a great move because it normally doesn’t happen in even developed countries. So I am very optimistic about hydrogen vehicle development.
Apart from M&M, is there any other company in India which has come forward for hydrogen vehicle development?
SIAM has some members working on ICE as well as fuel cells. Some vehicle makers are working on hydrogen-CNG blend as a transition fuel and is likely to be implemented in the country. This is because CNG is a proven fuel in the country and its combination with hydrogen will enable you to cut off CNG as a fuel and switch over to total hydrogen as a fuel. Most of the OEMs have tried that and found it successful.