Last year, a local boy from Maharashtra made headlines for creating a hydrogen-powered car entirely on his own at his home. Unsurprisingly, the homemade hydrogen-powered car garnered significant attention due to its low running costs and unique design. Now, after nearly a year, the hydrogen car has drawn the interest of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, who personally viewed the car and met its creator, Harshal Nakshane from Chandrapur, Maharashtra.
Blazing a trail from Chandrapur, Maharashtra, this AI-powered hydrogen car is a game-changer!
It was great meeting Maharashtra’s Innovative Genius, Harshal Nakshane, a farmer’s son from Chandrapur, yesterday in Mumbai.
He cracked a groundbreaking innovation – an AI-controlled… pic.twitter.com/tdANS9YNIp— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) October 29, 2023
After meeting Harshal and inspecting his creation – a green-colored AI-powered hydrogen car that he constructed at home – Devendra Fadnavis praised this homemade endeavor. In one of his recent tweets on the microblogging site X, he congratulated Harshal on his achievement and wished him the best. Fadnavis also posted several pictures of himself examining the hydrogen-powered car.
Harshal’s green-colored car is currently in its early prototype stage. According to Harshal, he has invested nearly Rs 25 lakh from his savings in developing this car, which can travel 300 km on Rs 150 worth of hydrogen. The car is AI-controlled and is in its pre-production stages, with a self-driving feature also undergoing trial runs.
In terms of visual appeal, Harshal’s green-colored hydrogen-powered car features unique design elements like scissor doors, a sunroof, and autonomous driving, all of which are commendable features for a homemade car. Harshal plans to put this car into mass production once he has a stock of at least 100 such vehicles. He also believes that mass production will reduce the car’s asking price, as it is currently quite high.
There is no specified timeframe for the car’s launch as it is still in its pre-production stage. The car’s specifications have also been kept under wraps by Harshal and his team. However, the car is now available for booking on the website AICars.in.
While Harshal’s and his team’s efforts to create this hydrogen-powered car seem impressive on paper, it’s important to note that such homemade cars are not legally allowed for use on public roads. Heavily modified cars like these cannot be driven on public roads until they are approved under homologation rules established by various authorities like ARAI to confirm their road-worthiness. Additionally, due to the current lack of hydrogen refueling infrastructure in the country, the use of hydrogen-powered cars may not be as efficient and hassle-free as conventional internal combustion engine cars.
India has strict regulations in place regarding modifications and homemade cars. These vehicles are not permitted to be driven on public roads unless they have received approvals from various authorities to ensure their roadworthiness. Additionally, there is limited knowledge about the functioning of hydrogen fueling systems and how they operate. Although Toyota recently showcased the Mirai hydrogen car in India, the lack of infrastructure for refueling is a significant obstacle preventing these vehicles from being widely used on Indian roads.
Such vehicles are illegal in India
According to the Supreme Court of India and the Motor Vehicle Act, modifications of this nature are prohibited for operation on public roads. While some individuals may consider these vehicles as project cars and use them on private properties such as racing tracks or farmhouses, the police have the authority to seize them if they are found on public roads.
In India, modifications are strictly prohibited, including aftermarket accessories like bullbars and other structural alterations. Even tires that exceed the recommended size for a vehicle are banned. Although these vehicles may attract attention on the roads, they are typically constructed in local garages without proper welding equipment, posing a potential safety hazard. If a vehicle were to disintegrate while in motion, it could cause a serious accident.
