India Flags Off First Commercial Hydrogen Bus Fleet in Ladakh, Sets Global Altitude Milestone

20 June, 2025:

In a significant step toward sustainable transport at high altitudes, five hydrogen fuel cell buses were officially flagged off in Ladakh, marking India’s first-ever commercial deployment of hydrogen-powered buses. This milestone gives a major boost to green mobility in the region and showcases India’s commitment to clean energy solutions.

NTPC Limited, India’s largest integrated power utility, officially handed over five hydrogen fuel cell buses to SIDCO (Sindhu Infrastructure Development Corporation) under the Leh Administration. This marks the country’s first commercial deployment of hydrogen-powered buses and sets a global milestone for green public transport operating at the world’s highest altitude of 11,562 feet (3,524 meters).

The initiative is anchored by NTPC’s Green Hydrogen Mobility Station, inaugurated last November in Leh, which operates alongside a 1.7 MW solar plant that fully powers on-site hydrogen production. Using India’s first high-pressure dispensing system at 350 bar, the station fuels buses engineered to perform in Ladakh’s sub-zero, low-oxygen conditions.

The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 350 metric tonnes annually and release 230 metric tonnes of pure oxygen—an environmental impact equivalent to planting 13,000 trees. NTPC executives were joined by local dignitaries, including Shri Bhupesh Chowdhry (IAS, SIDCO MD & Transport Secretary) and Dr. Pawan Kotwal (IAS, Chief Secretary of UT Ladakh), to mark the handover.

Dr. Kotwal commended NTPC’s pioneering role and called for wider adoption of hydrogen solutions across Ladakh, stating, “We must document the project’s findings for future replication.” As part of the UT's broader vision of achieving a Carbon Neutral Ladakh, the buses will now begin operations—gathering critical data and enabling policy development for future hydrogen rollouts.

This initiative is a result of collaborative efforts between NTPC and the Ladakh administration, symbolising India's growing leadership in renewable energy innovation and aligning with the Centre's broader push toward net-zero emissions.

NTPC launched the world's first hydrogen fueling station at such a high altitude (11,562 feet above sea level) in November last year.