Tata Motors to run 40 trucks fuelled by green hydrogen at VOC Port in TN

Tata Motors officially announced here on Friday that it has signed an MoU with V O Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA) based in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, to deploy 40 trucks with green hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2 ICE).

Under the MoU finalised in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, Tata Motors will commence trial runs of 40 trucks with green hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2 ICE) over the next two years.

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The project has been funded by the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, underscoring the government’s commitment to accelerating green hydrogen adoption across India’s maritime logistics ecosystem, according to the statement.

Earlier in March 2025, Tata Motors had begun a 24-months trial run of 16 hydrogen-fuelled trucks equipped with both Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines (H2-ICE) and Fuel Cell (H2-FCEV) technologies, with varying configurations and payload capacities, prominent freight routes, including those around Mumbai, Pune, Delhi-NCR, Surat, Vadodara, Jamshedpur and Kalinganagar.

According to Tata Motors, Tata Prima H.55S trucks and Tata Prima H.28 trucks have an operational range between 300 km and 500 km.

Commenting on the development, VOCPA Chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit called the deployment of hydrogen-powered trucks “a transformative step,” which will significantly decarbonise port operations. “This initiative will set a benchmark for sustainable port-led logistics in India. To support the induction of these trucks, we are progressing plans to establish a 2 MW electrolyser and a dedicated hydrogen refuelling station,” Purohit said.

Tata Motors Vice President & Business Head (Trucks) Rajesh Kaul said that the collaboration is a major milestone in real-world hydrogen trucking. “Over several months, we have worked closely with the port authorities to assess pathways for hydrogen vehicles in cargo-handling applications. This pilot project will help evaluate TCO parity and showcase how green hydrogen can support India’s transition to cleaner port logistics,” Kaul said.

The hydrogen truck fleet will be based on the Tata Prima 55-tonne prime mover platform, engineered for sustainable, high-performance, heavy-duty applications. Equipped with the premium Prima cabin and advanced driver-assist features, the trucks are designed to enhance driver comfort, reduce fatigue, and improve safety and productivity.

Tata Motors has been accelerating alternative-fuel innovation across its commercial vehicle portfolio, spanning battery-electric, CNG, LNG, hydrogen ICE and hydrogen fuel cell technologies. The company began hydrogen truck trials across key freight corridors in 2025 and has already deployed 15 hydrogen fuel cell (H2-FCEV) buses.