Under this proposal, CSMCRI will conduct a research, produce and supply jatropha oil for two years, which in the form of biodiesel will be tested on GM vehicles, General Motor India Vice-President (corporate affairs) P Balendran told PTI.

“Under this agreement, the research institute will also be utilising two acres of land at GM India’s Talegaon plant at Maharashtra for Jatropha cultivation as part of the company’s resolve to explore environment friendly operational solutions,” Mr. Balendran said.

Phase II of the CSMCRI project will involve experimental jatropha cultivation in small scale trial plantations in Gujarat. GM Powertrain Europe is supplying a test fleet of six cars that are being run on various Jatropha biodiesel blends.

Although the jatropha biodiesel work is much smaller in scale that GM’s support for cellulosic ethanol, GM began its biodiesel support in India several years ago, said Alan Adler, GM’s Manager, Biofuels Communications.