Mahindra launch HyAlfa Hydrogen-powered three-wheeler

Mahindra & Mahindra showcased the HyAlfa Hydrogen-powered three-wheeler at the 2012 Auto Expo.

The HyAlfa is world’s first hydrogen-powered three-wheeler. The HyAlfa has been developed under a joint project by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies (ICHET), Mahindra & Mahindra and IIT-Delhi, with support from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

As part of its mobility initiatives, Mahindra has aimed at providing alternative fuel technology solutions and the HyAlfa is another step towards it,” said Pawan Goenka, president of the company’s automotive and farm equipment sectors

Part of a development project dubbed ‘DelHy 3w’, a fleet of 15 HyAlfa three-wheelers will run on an experimental basis at Pragati Maidan, where a hydrogen refuelling station has also been set up.

HyAlfa is not yet ready for commercial production and further fine-tuning will be required before moving in that direction.

If the product does make it into the mass market which we feel will be most unlikely would cost Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 more than a CNG three-wheeler. A CNG three-wheeler costs close to Rs. 2 lakh.