Rickshaws in New Delhi go green

If hydrogen is produced from renewable resources in India, it could be a greener alternative for urban commuters in cities such as New Delhi, a minister said. It took three years and $1 million to complete, but authorities with the U.N. Industrial Development Organization helped India launch the world's first fleet of 15 hydrogen-fueled rickshaws from a station in New Delhi. Farooq Abdullah, the Indian minister of renewable energy, said hydrogen-powered vehicles would go a long way toward developing a cleaner urban environment. "If hydrogen is produced from renewable energy sources, then it is the cleanest fuel from well to wheel," he said in a statement. He said because the technology is new for his country, it costs more than conventional fuels. If India can create the right market conditions for mass production of hydrogen vehicles and fueling stations, however, major metropolitan cities including New Delhi might take to the development. Abdullah added developing countries could play a major role in moving from conventional fuel sources to a hydrogen-inclusive energy future.