PIL in Delhi HC seeks development of FAME scheme for Hydrogen-Powered Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been trailed in Delhi High Court seeking directions to the Centre for expansion of benefits and incentives under phase II of faster adoption and manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (EV) in India (FAME) scheme for hydrogen-powered fuel-cell electric automobiles.

The petitioner Ashwini Kumar, a practicing advocate, search for directions to the respondent to amplify the possibility and realm of the FAME India Phase II scheme.

The petition sought directions to the respondent to outspread hydrogen energy infrastructure and make fuel cell electric vehicles eligible for enticements under the FAME India Phase II scheme so that the allocated budget towards the adoption of e-mobility in India could be attained faster to benefit of the public.

The petition states, "FAME India schemes do not specifically distinguish between electric vehicles by way of their battery operation or hydrogen fuel cell operation, but only fail to include the electric vehicles driven by hydrogen fuel cells within the ambit of the scheme and there is no reason to not include hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles within the FAME India schemes and extend the incentives under the scheme to hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and its respective refuelling infrastructure."

The plea also states, “That the primary objectives of the stated FAME schemes are to reduce the dependence on petroleum resources, counter the impact of internal combustion engine vehicles on the environment, and keep pace with the gradual shift of the automobile industry towards alternate fuels including electric.”

Hearing of the petition is now listed on Friday before the bench of Justice DN Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh.

It states, “With the growing pace of solar power generation in India, the need for prepare a suitable and cost-effective energy storage method would inadvertently lead to the large-scale utilization of hydrogen as an effective storage medium that could efficiently be utilized for transportation.”

The plea adds, "In the global technological sphere, the advancements in hydrogen energy infrastructure and utilities are moving ahead in an accelerated manner and if India does not adapt quickly to these developments then it will lose on its chance to become a global clean energy giant."