It would involve five Indian automobile majors, entail between Rs 10-12 crore investment and should begin yielding results within two years.
NEW DELHI: An ambitious project to ensure fuel efficiency cut down emission levels and slash dependence on oil imports is finally being kick-started. The project, which aims to develop an optimal mix of CNG and hydrogen for use in existing vehicles, is being commissioned under the aegis of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). It would involve five Indian automobile majors, entail between Rs 10-12 crore investment and should begin yielding results within two years.
The Centre has agreed to bear about Rs 3 crore of the total project cost, with a similar amount being invested by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). The rest would come from the five automobile majors participating in this project, which is to be unveiled by Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata on June 4.
Besides Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ashok Leyland and Eicher Motors have also come together for this project. The idea is to use various combinations of CNG and Hydrogen - called hithane - in existing vehicles to determine an optimum mix, which not only ensures fuel efficiency but also allows minimum engine modification.
SIAM secretary general Dilip Chenoy said world over, vehicle makers are looking for ways to use hydrogen fuel in new products, but this project seeks to develop for the first time ever a CNG-hydrogen mixture for use in the existing on-road fleet of vehicles with minimum modifications in the engine and engine components.
The participating companies are providing seven different types of vehicles for the purpose: three light commercial vehicles (LCVs), two three-wheelers, a sports utility vehicle (SUV) and a passenger car. Each vehicle would be first tested on blends of between 10-30% hydrogen to get to the optimum blend that reduces emissions and achieves the desired fuel supply sustainability. Thereafter, this blend will be used to modify vehicle engines for optimum performance with the new fuel.
Besides SIAM, the Ministry of new and renewable energy and Indian Oil Corporation are the other participants in the project. The hydrogen needed for this project will be sourced from IOC. A hydrogen station is expected to come up at the Central Government Officers’ Complex in Delhi.
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