New fuel cell-powered, zero-emission buses are being developed in India by making use of technology designed from visits to the moon, it was confirmed on Wednesday (19th November).

Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation have assembled the first prototype of the vehicle after adapting the cryogenic rocket technology which featured in a recent lunar mission.

The group is intending to recruit Tata Motors to help produce the engine and hydrogen system and if tests go to plan the first bus could be ready to hit the road as early as next year.

The fuel cell - which the researchers believe could offer 80kw of electric power - operates by receiving hydrogen from eight high-pressure bottles which are stored on the top of the buses.

If implemented successfully, it may form a crucial component of the Indian government's stated target of having one million hydrogen-fuelled vehicles on the road by 2020.

The latest news follows the recent revelation that Jamshedpur, the research department of Tata Steel, has developed a way of extracting hydrogen from steel slag.



Source:
India develops fuel cells using rocket technology from moon mission (19/11/08)
http://www.cleantech.com/news/3889/india-hydrogen-fuel-cells-using-rocketship-technology-moon-mission