HORIBA Opens Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Test Bed Facility In Pune

HORIBA India, a group company of HORIBA, Kyoto based Japanese player in analytical equipment and measurement solutions for the three group fields including Energy & Environment, Bio & Healthcare and Materials & Semiconductor - has now ventured into the emerging mega-field of Hydrogen. HORIBA has inaugurated its first-ever Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) Test Bed Facility at HORIBA India Technical Center in Chakan, Pune. 

HORIBA India’s Chakan facility, HORIBA India Technical Centre (HITC) launched in 2016 with an investment of approximately INR 100+ crore is spread over 10,000 sq. mts. Enacting as a demonstration base for emission measurement systems, advanced analytical instruments and an indigenised customisation facility is operational since 2006. This state-of-the-art facility is certified with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and NABL ISO IEC 17025:2017 accreditation that supports the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat drive.

HORIBA has executed many projects on the Development of a 2/3 Wheel Chassis Dynamometer, Make In India EV Chassis Dyno, RDE Testing Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS), Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (AAQMS) and Water Quality Monitoring System (WQMS) for both domestic and export supplies at this technical center. HORIBA has recently started the repair, calibration and production of the Mass Flow Controllers (MFC) at this facility.

The company has invested a further approx. INR 28-30 crore in establishing the Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) Test Bed Facility, which has an engine testing capacity upto 380KW meeting the Indian commercial vehicle segment. In line with the Make-in-India and Atmanirbhar Bharat mission, HORIBA has three manufacturing facilities in India in Chakan (Pune), Nagpur and Haridwar with a commitment to generating employment opportunities in tier-2 cities. The global business revenue of HORIBA, Ltd. is 2.3 Billion USD. The Company has a commitment to reducing CO2 emissions by 42 per cent by 2032 (compared to 22).

Addressing the launch occasion and HORIBA India’s commitment worldwide, Dr. George Gillispie, Executive Corporate Officer, HORIBA Energy and Environment, said, “As the most abundant element on Earth, Hydrogen presents a powerful solution for carbon-neutral fuel which can embark a new era in Energy. We are excited to support India’s ambition of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. The establishment of this Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Test Bed facility is going to be a significant step towards a sustainable tomorrow and plays a crucial role in India’s green energy revolution.”

The new facility will feature a full-fledged Experience Zone showcasing products like Hydrogen Gas Analyser (HyEVO); the Hydrogen Fuel Flow Meter (HyFQ-2000 Series) which measures the H2 consumption of either engine or fuel cell; Laser Spectroscopic Motor Exhaust Gas Analyser (MEXA-ONE-XL-NX); Engine Dynamometer, among others. Additionally, Live Demonstration of a few products will offer customers and patrons a hands-on experience with the unique technologies.

Adding to this, Dr. Rajeev Gautam, Corporate Officer – HORIBA, Japan and President – HORIBA India, said, “The first-ever Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Test Bed facility took a kick-start from India in the entire Global HORIBA group, and this pivotal step is a testament toward HORIBA’s goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 42 per cent by 2033 hence, achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This investment is a strong step towards revolutionising the automotive industry in India with an environmentally efficient approach.

Equipped with test engines ranging from 50 to 380 kilowatts, the facility meets global safety standards and compliance requirements. It is designed to address the perpetually developing demands of the Indian market and plays a pivotal role in supporting the nation’s green energy revolution.