downtoearth-subscribe

Eco friendly buses

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has granted US $297,000 (approximately Rs 1.2 crores) for a project to introduce state-of-the-art fuel cell buses in India. At a recent press conference, the Union minister for environment and forests Suresh Prabhu said that India will be one of the first countries in Asia to carry out this project.

Fuel cells consist of two electrodes, an anode and a cathode, in contact with an electrolyte. The process operates by reverse electrolysis: when the anode and cathode are supplied with fuel and air, respectively, the cell generates a voltage between the two electrodes. Once the two electrodes are connected to an external circuit, this electrochemical process generates electric power. "The buses will be seen on the roads only next year,' said Pradip Monga, assistant resident representative, UNDP.

Related Content