UK-India partnership develops hydrogen Tuk-Tuk concept

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Indian Government project aims to put a million fuel cell vehicles on Indian roads by 2020

Birmingham University and Indian automotive research institute DYPDC has designed a hydrogen fuelled Tuk-Tuk that they say is the world’s first affordable, hydrogen fuel-cell powered, mass transport vehicle.

The four-wheeled vehicle has been in development since last summer at Spencer Ashley, a UK-based motorsports firm. It has been created as part of the Indian government’s “Hydrogen Highway” initiative which aims to ensure that at least 1 million hydrogen-fuelled vehicles hit the roads by 2020.

Birmingham University said it had focused on the development of the “electrical side” of the vehicle. The powertrain for the car consists of a hydrogen fuel cell, an electric motor and a control system. Hydrogen for the vehicle is stored in low pressure metal hydride cylinders. 

The project is looking at producing hydrogen using solar-powered “hydrogen trees”. In these “trees” a thermal compressor will split water into hydrogen and oxygen using solar energy. Hydrogen storage cylinders will then be used to power equipment including mobile phones, computers and lighting in remote and developing areas , as well as powering an electric vehicle.

Parmjit Chima, head of the School of Engineering, Design and Manufacturing Systems at Birmingham City University, said: “With the current climate agenda of a low-carbon economy and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, the way vehicles are reliant on fossil fuels needs to change.

“With an abundance of sunshine in India, we have also been developing a Hydrogen Tree concept, with a simple and aesthetically elegant design which would be capable of charging multiple hydride stores to power not only vehicles but other appliances and devices too. This research into extracting and storing hydrogen is a real game-changer.”

A model of the ‘Millennium Tuk-Tuk’ hydrogen car will be showcased at the Auto Expo Show in Dehli this weekend.
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