Electric three-wheeler maker Omega Seiki Mobility OSM's French arm, Hydrogen Intelligence SA, intends to begin commercial trials of India's first grey and green hydrogen-powered electric three-wheeler from September 2024 onwards.
Commercial trials with domestic fleet operators will begin in Gujarat and Mumbai, Maharashtra and offer a range of 500 km on a single fill and establish dedicated grey hydrogen refuelling centres will be set up at various last-mile operators' premises in these two states.
Company officials state that a similar strategy is being followed as was done for promoting the growth of e-3w charging stations, where it will set up its own hydrogen filling stations.
To prove the efficacy of the vehicle in producing 500 km of range and to validate Hydrogen Intelligence's (HI) S.A.'s efforts to create a breakthrough for small commercial vehicles using green hydrogen, Pierre Fillon, President of Le Mans and promoter of Automobile Club de l'Ouest, Le Man's Racing, will be shortly testing the vehicle at the Circuit 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Speaking to Autocar Professional, Uday Narang, CEO and Chairman of OSM, also stated that even as larger legacy players have introduced their versions of hydrogen vehicles, it will be the first three-wheeler from India and even worldwide to be showcased at the 9th edition of the three-day hydrogen show, Hyvolution, which commenced in Paris on Tuesday.
"We intend to introduce 100 such grey-to-green hydrogen fuel vehicles in India with last-mile operators by the second quarter of the current calendar year." OSM will begin commercial production of 5000 grey2green hydrogen-powered vehicles at its upcoming plant in Tamil Nadu, Narang confirmed.
Antoine Abou, Co-founder of Systemics Energy, and Richard Gerstenberg, CEO of OSM Mobility EU, who are driving innovation in the implementation of hydrogen-based applications for small commercial vehicles, are shareholders in the new entity, where OSM founder Narang has a 50 percent stake.