Indian Auto Majors in Joint Program to Develop HCNG Vehicles

5 November 2007

Economic Times. Bajaj Auto, Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Eicher Motors are participating in a project initiated by India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) to develop hydrogen-blended compressed natural gas (HCNG)-run vehicles.

The pilot project will use CNG with different blends of hydrogen ranging from 12% to 30% in different vehicles—small three-wheelers, trucks and passenger buses—supplied by the manufacturers.

Bajaj Auto’s three-wheeler will be the first one to be tested later this month while Tata Motors’ LCV will run on the new fuel in December. After the tests, which are expected to end by mid-2008, new vehicles running on this fuel (HCNG) will be introduced by these manufacturers.

“We will determine the right blend for optimum power and emission. There will be half a dozen different engines from 250 cc to over 2000 cc in different vehicles, which will let us know the precise fuel blend for best efficiency,” Dilip Chenoy, director general, SIAM said.