A Tavera travelled 201 km with an average mileage of 11.16 per km under full load condition on neat (B100) biodiesel prepared from cultured marine microalgae in solar salt pans.
The Tavera travelled 201 km with an average mileage of 11.16 per km under full load condition. But what set this journey, which began in Delhi, aside from countless others, was the fact that the
vehicle was not running on conventional fossil fuel!
It was running on neat (B100) biodiesel prepared from cultured marine microalgae in solar salt pans of CSIR-CSMCRI (Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar), Gujarat.
The good news is that the successful test run has held out hopes for an alternative to pricey fossil fuel. But, at present, B100 biodiesel is very costly (Rs155 per litre) though work is being done to bring down its cost.
Officials of the CSMCRI involved in the test drive on an unmodified Tavera said a PUC certificate for the car was also obtained.
On the pollution front, the B100 marine microalgal biodiesel generates carbon dioxide emissions just like any other fuel. However, unlike fossil diesel, the CO2 emissions released on driving the vehicle are effectively neutralised by the photosynthesis process.
This is so because biodiesel was obtained from a photosynthetic microorganism in the first place.
"We need to worry about the per litre cost and also the potential of raising biomass by millions of tonnes. As of now 10 million tonne of dry biomass would be required for 1 million tonne of microalgal biodiesel," said the official.
It should be noted that in April 10, 2011 CSIR-CSMCRI ran an unmodified Tavera vehicle with B20 biodiesel made from the naturally occurring floating mat of the consortium of microalgae, and subsequently this year B100 biodiesel was made of oils obtained from the microalgal biomass generated in solar salt pans (from those isolated and screened in laboratories).
Officials said that no problems were reported with regard to the quality of the fuel so far. On its commercial viability, officials said it was too early to take a call.
The official said that questions like what would be the appropriate locations to grow biomass cost-effectively in such large volumes and the environmental implications need to be considered before determining commercial viability of the fuel.
But they do agree that it holds out hopes and is likely to put an end to the raging debate over biofuels. Of course, the cost factor has to be taken care of before it fuels a revolution of sorts.
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