Studies indicate that if all diesel buses in developing countries are replaced, by 2020, with fuel-cell buses operating on hydrogen produced from natural gas, the move would cut down on 440 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Additionally, up to 40 per cent of airborne particulate matter swirling over our city's streets would also be eliminated.

The major problem is the cost factor. Each bus is likely to cost around $10 lakh. How feasible will it be for the government to go in for such a venture? Says Sanjeev Taneja, an electric engineer and automobile expert, "I seriously doubt how serious the government is about bringing in these buses. It is just not commercially viable to go in for fuel cell buses at this stage." But then why is the government committing itself to the project? Sanjeev says that's because emission norms around the world are getting a lot stricter.

By 2020, it is imperative that emission levels come down; if we hope for a better place to live in. What is happening in the process is that the industry's big giants are pushing newer technologies forward. At present, there is already so much happening in the market with LPG and other forms of energy sources coming in - and their drawbacks being exposed.

But how does a fuel cell work? Fuel cells are electrochemical devices, which convert chemical energy in fuel, directly and efficiently, to electricity and heat, thus doing away with combustion. The most suitable fuel for such cells is hydrogen or a mixture containing hydrogen. Hydrogen and oxygen react electrochemically to produce electricity, heat and water. Says Sanjeev, "It is all a sort of mixture of electrical energy and fuel energy derived from hydrogen."

According to ministry sources, fuel cell buses are being bought for experimental purposes. Says a high placed source, "The concept of fuel cells had been developed from 1830 onwards. However, since cheaper oil was always available, fuel cells were never really looked at very seriously. But now is when we need the technology more than ever. However, it is important to make one thing very clear - we are not buying these buses in bulk. It is all part of a UNDP-funded project where only three buses will be bought on a trial basis. The technology is still in its formative stages and needs loads of improvement."

According to UNDP sources, $297,000 has already been provided to the Indian Government, to conduct a proper study on the project and its feasibility in Indian conditions. UNDP has divided the project into two phases, the first of which will become operational by this year-end. The second phase will come into being in another two and a half years. The completion of the project will see a total of about eight such buses plying on Delhi roads.

Says a UNDP official, "The project is basically being conducted on a demonstration basis. We are not looking at the cost aspect right now. Also, the technology is regularly being updated. When we started out, everything was different from the way it is now. The initial cost of any new technology is always very high. Fuel cells have not yet been fully commercialized. We first want to see how they function in Indian conditions. Once the demand increases, prices will automatically come down."

Since the project is only partly funded by UNDP Global Environment Facility (GEF), the rest of the money will come from the Government. The project in the first phase will see GEF putting in $5.98 million out of a total of $12 million. Similarly, in the second phase, GEF will fund $5.86 million of the needed $16.4 million. The ministry is also hoping for subsidies to ease the cost burden. In the meantime, we'll have to wait and see how the price mechanics work out once the vehicle makes its way to Delhi.

Says Sanjeev, "For a bus as expensive as this, people might end up paying a very high ticket price; even after subsidization. People may prefer dying of pollution than paying up to Rs 50 or 60 a ticket."