|
|
|
|
| 
Subscribe to
Posts [Atom] |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is now in the process of making the best use of engines of certain vehicles for use with hydrogen-blended CNG (HCNG). The research conducted by SIAM and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) have agreed upon an ideal blend of 18% hydrogen with CNG. This will produce smallest amount of Nitrogen oxide and promises the highest power to vehicles. HCNG is among the latest technology that is being considered for lessening pollution from vehicles. As per what Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM director general Dilip Chenoy, by April, the kind of engines that would be suited for running with the new blend will be ready. SIAM is now in the process of optimizing engines that would equip it to deal with an 18% blend of hydrogen with CNG. And this kind of an engine will give the least power reduction and highest Nitrogen oxide reduction. This new fuel will be used in CNG vehicles only after it is being tested for about 50,000 km or more. This decision would probably lead to almost all public transport in the city, from three-wheelers to taxis and is an excellent substitute for petrol and diesel. But it did have emission problems. HCNG reduces both CO2 and Nitrogen oxide levels in emissions and guarantees to give better mileage. HCNG will give better mileage as it is 1.13 times as much as CNG in terms of volume. Hydrogen is extremely expensive commercial selling is close to impossible. Only one HCNG station operates in Dwarka which too is used for fuelling only a trial fleet. And so it might take almost two years before the blend is available commercially. Labels: CNG, Eco-Friendly-Vehicles, Mileage, New Fuel Technology
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
 CNG is “in” and how? Mercedes Benz India has itself endorsed the idea of introducing the CNG variant of its new Mercedes-Benz E-Class. This step probably might boost the sales of E-Class in India and might as well propel the sales of Mercedes units in India so that it will regain its lost territory. Oof! What a thought? Mercedes Benz India is contemplating to bring in and deliver the CNG variant of its popular model E-Class sedan to the customers who want them. But the CNG variant comes with a catch, it has to be imported. Well, so what’s the hitch you might ask? India, which has got its own, one of a kind, infamous import duty policy will be a deterrent to the customers who would want to import the CNG versions of the car. This is because the imported car will attract 104 per cent duty, which will mean that it will be twice as much the latest edition of the E-Class (petrol) that costs Rs 45.89 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai). The fact that CNGis largely retailed in Delhi and Mumbai also means that the market will be confined to these two cities. Mercedes Benz India would consider assembly of the CNG version if there was adequate demand. The petrol Merc models are E-25 (25 per cent mix of ethanol) compliant while the diesel options can operate on bio-diesel. Mercedes had earlier conducted a trial run of the CNG-E Class in India. The mileage of the car is estimated to be 18 km a kg. Labels: CNG, Mercedes-Benz-E-Class, Mercedes-Benz-India
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
With car buyers becoming aware of the environmental impact, the carmakers are manufacturing new cars that run on natural gas and electricity. However, many buyers on a budget are discouraged by the price tags associated with these automobiles. But, cars that run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) come with a minimal raise in price compared to their conventional counterparts. Of late cars running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) are gaining popularity in India. It has been found out that the number of CNG-driven car has risen to 43% in Delhi. It has been revealed that 3,700 cars continue to be added every month to the fleet running on the bio-fuel. A survey was carried out by the city’s sole CNG supplier, Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL). It has found that there are 175,313 private CNG cars against 122,485 of the last year for the month of March. The survey, conducted in the April-May period, sees the number of private vehicles running on CNG exceeding 2.5 Lakh by the time Delhi hosts the Commonwealth Games in October next year. The survey found that over 91% of private CNG cars are registered in Delhi, while 5% are registered in UP and around 4% in Haryana. Total 297,154 vehicles of all categories at present run on CNG. The sudden rush for CNG among private car owners can be attributed to reduction in price of CNG kits, introduction of CNG variants by leading carmakers, acceptability of CNG as a safe fuel by the masses. CNG is 66% cheaper than petrol and 36% than diesel. With its acceptability in almost all segments of transport, CNG has established itself as a people’s fuel. The survey also inferred that conversion has not been limited to small cars, it has been happening in luxury cars too. The CNG fleet of Delhi and National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) comprises 12,918 buses, 5,780 Rough Terrain Vehicles (RTV), 9,343 taxis, 93,400 three-wheelers, 175,313 private cars and 400 vehicles classified as others. Labels: CNG, CNG-Powered-Cars, Luxury-Cars
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
CNG seems to be the new mantra of the Indian auto industry and everybody wants a piece of the pie when it comes to CNG. Just when Maruti Suzuki announced their willingness to bring out CNG variants of their existing cars, Tata Motors who didn’t want to be left behind in the rat race for cars powered by CNG, has jumped in the bandwagon. Tata Motors could, in the next six months, launch their CNG variants of Tata Indica and Tata Indigo. Currently, CNG versions of these models is being offered by the company with after-sales fitment of gas kits. Tata Motors which is not new to CNG variants had been making these variants about three years back. But they stopped as they see CNG variants as viable options. Tata Motors perceives that CNG will be the ultimate clean fuel to run cars. The recent discoveries of the natural gas in the Krishna-Godavari basin in Andhra Pradesh, has encouraged most car manufacturers in India to plan CNG variants for their existing portfolio. Car manufacturers feel that CNG variants will be highly successful commercially compared to diesel, LPG or hybrid cars. The government too is expected to enhance the distribution network by the end of next year. CNG or compressed natural gas is considered a clean fuel for its low emission levels and high performance. It does not hamper the power output in any way. If this happens, India will be the first country to make wide use of CNG cars. Even United States and the Western European countries do not make use of this technology today. It is important that car manufacturers in India make full use of the technology to show other countries that it is capable of innovation. Labels: CNG, LPG, Tata-Indica, Tata-Indigo, Tata-Motors
Friday, 29 May 2009
The growing environmental concern has engaged the worlds’ brightest minds to come up with a perfect answer to soaring fuel prices and automotive pollution. Car experts have tested the use bio-fuels, LPG, CNG, ethanol, water, air, and even electricity to run cars. Some of the cars around the world are successfully running on these alternative fuels. But at present the hot topic of debate in the western market is whether electric cars are more powerful or cars powered by bio-fuels. While working on this line the researchers at the University of California along with fellow researchers have come up with a unique way to calculate it. They calculated the environmental impact of producing various alternative fuels used to drive cars. Under this system, the fuel consumption was not calculated in km/h, mph or km/100 litres but in miles per acre (miles/acre). This new formula calculated the amount of miles a car travelled per acre of bio mass. The calculation took into account factors like energy produced by each technology and energy consumed for powering the vehicles. According to the researchers, a life cycle analysis of the car powered by bio-fuel and bio electricity was done. And later it was revealed that bio-electricity offers more mileage and is more eco-friendly than bio-fuels. With the result of this research, electric cars win the race against bio-fuels. Labels: Alternative-Fuels, Bio-Fuel-Powered-Cars, CNG, Electric-Cars, LPG
|
|
