Daimler India Pushes for Liquid Hydrogen in Bus Transit Evolution

As the Indian bus industry moves toward a post-diesel future, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles is looking past battery-electric technology for its long-term intercity strategy, placing its bets instead on liquid hydrogen.

Speaking at the Bus World Conclave 2026, Andamuthu Ponnusam, VP and Head of Business, outlined a bifurcated approach to the decarbonization of public transport. While acknowledging that electric buses have found a foothold in urban centers, he argued that the requirements of high-density, long-distance travel demand a different molecular solution.

“Electric...will be suitable for cities like Bangalore or Mumbai or Delhi where you see the depot availability or the charging infrastructure,” Ponnusam told an audience of industry leaders. However, for the grueling demands of intercity routes, he identified liquid hydrogen as a compelling case for India due to its superior energy density and range.

The executive highlighted that liquid hydrogen stands out for fast refuelling, a critical factor for fleet operators who cannot afford the lengthy downtimes often associated with current battery-electric charging cycles.

The push for hydrogen is not a localized effort. Ponnusam revealed that DICV is leveraging the heavy lifting of Daimler’s international R&D divisions. “Our global powertrain teams are working with the truck technology global [teams]... working together,” he said, adding that the company “strongly believe[s] that that will be the final end solution.”

Despite the technological optimism, the transition cannot happen in a vacuum. He called on the Indian government to move beyond general incentives and toward specific infrastructure support, proposing trial corridors to prove the viability of the technology.

“We need the alternate propulsions to be incentivized by the government,” Ponnusam stated, suggesting a targeted rollout where five or six fueling stations are installed along high-traffic routes to catalyze the shift.

As the industry debates the merits of various alternate fuels, ranging from ethanol to battery electric, Daimler’s focus on liquid hydrogen signals a strategic move to dominate the high-utilization intercity segment—provided the infrastructure follows the innovation.

(With inputs from Mukul Yudhveer Singh)