The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification proposing new dual colour registration plates for hydrogen powered vehicles, intended to promote green mobility and simplify roadside identification.

Under the plan, private hydrogen cars would carry plates split horizontally: green on the upper half, blue below, with white letters and numerals. Commercial hydrogen vehicles would display the same green blue background, but with yellow characters, while hydrogen fuelled rental cabs would use black over blue with yellow figures.

The proposal mirrors existing colour codes for electric vehicles, which already sport green plates, and for conventional engines, which use white for private and yellow for commercial vehicles. Black plates with yellow lettering will continue to denote rental fleets.

Hydrogen is viewed as a promising option for long haul lorries and buses thanks to its high energy density and lighter storage requirements compared with batteries. Indian manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland and Olectra Greentech are developing hydrogen fuel cell models, supported by refuelling pilots from Reliance, BPCL and HPCL along key freight corridors.

According to Abhay Bakre, Director of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, more than 1 000 hydrogen trucks and buses could be on Indian roads by 2030, with around 50 expected this year.

India already employs special plate colours for diplomatic, temporary and senior governmental vehicles, and the new dual tone scheme would extend this visual system to the hydrogen segment, ensuring quick recognition by enforcement agencies and the public alike. Final rules will be issued after stakeholder consultation.