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Wednesday, 16 July 2008
 Hybrids and electric cars are making big news in India as fuel prices and loan interest rates go sky high. People are now looking for fuel efficient cars that are less dependent on fossil fuels. Sensing the pulse of buyers, the government has rolled out sops for hybrid cars sold in India. The Honda Civic Hybrid recently entered India while E10 cars (10 percent ethanol) cars like the Accord are already present on Indian roads. Hyundai is planning to bring its own version of Hybrid technology to India. It plans to bring in hybrid variants of the Accent, Sonata and Avante. The domestic auto giant Mahindra and Mahindra has already introduced the Scorpio Hybrid for its market abroad. Most of these hybrids are sold because of their low running costs, but there is a huge difference in the cost of hybrid and original petrol versions of these cars. However, it is electric cars that provide the best answer to saving fuel costs and recovering investment. Interestingly, it is India’s own Electric Car manufacturer Reva Electric Car Company which beats the best in the business and proves to be the most cost effective car. According to experts, the electrically charged REVAi car can save up to Rs 4,500 in fuel costs every month for a travel distance of 45 km everyday. This amount will help recover the cost of the Reva car within a few years time. On the other hand, recovery of the difference in price between a Hybrid and its petrol counterpart can take years if calculated in cost saving due to fuel-efficiency. However, hybrids do offer better power and comfort compared to the electric cars available in India today. Labels: Electric Cars, Environment friendly cars, green cars, hybrid cars, LPG cars
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
The hydrogen revolution has come to India. Tata, Honda, and Toyota are already conducting research on hydrogen-run buses, trucks, and cars. The First hydrogen fuelling station for these vehicles is said to open in the last quarter of 2008. The Indian Oil Corporation is likely to base this fuel station in Delhi as part of a government policy to convert 20 % of vehicles to natural gases. These 20% vehicles could be either public transport like buses or private transport like cars (mainly luxury cars). The fuelling station will supply hythane and hydrogen to all vehicles powered by natural gases. This is a positive move from the Indian government to save the environment before it is too late. In the near future, if small cars also join the hydrogen vehicle line-up, then pollution could soon be a topic of the past! Labels: Environment friendly cars, Honda, Hydrogen fueled vehicles, small cars, Tata
Thursday, 28 February 2008
I read recently that the fumes from a car’s exhaust could trigger heart disease and increase the risk of strokes. That has got me worried about the scene here with Indian cars.
I know that most new cars in India comply with the Bharat stage 3 emission norms, but there are still those few cars that are not in this bracket. The scary ground reality is that pollution levels are soaring beyond average safety levels. Just a small ride through a traffic-congested road in a metro leaves you with a tarred face. And its not just metros that are affected by this! Even smaller cities and towns are now reaching that stage. I think it would be best to have all cars fitted with LPG/CNG kits compulsorily. In that way, it would reduce the dependence on petrol/diesel engines which are more polluting. Submitted by Keep-Your-City-Clean Labels: Car-Emissions, CNG cars, Environment friendly cars, LPG cars
Saturday, 9 February 2008
As we all know, the only electric car that is tooting around in India is the Maini REVAi. I have always wanted more options and now my wait seems to be over. I keep up with car news as a hobby and stumbled upon news about some other electric car being brought out by some unknown company called Bavina in Chennai. But before you become cynical about what the car is going to be like, let me remind you that Maini was just as unknown when it first came out! Apparently, it is going to be a 4-door passenger car with an estimated price tag of Rs 2.5 Lakh, which is way less than the Maini 2-door. The launch is supposed to be in April 2008. This newbie will most probably have the options of an AC, a central locking system, and power windows, all within the estimated price. If I want to go electric without having to settle for a frog like REVA, then count me in! Article Submitted by Rajesh PaiLabels: cars-India, Electric Car, Environment friendly cars, Maini, REVAi
Friday, 1 February 2008
I just read that the oil ministry has decided to give Ethanol a declared goods status, which means that its cost could go down compared to its current cost of Rs 28 per litre. I have been following up the news about the launch of the Hybrid green cars that Honda and Toyota are suppose to launch this year. Naturally, I am an eco-friendly guy and I like the idea of my kids growing up in greener city than what I get to see now!
Ethanol is the favoured fuel for these hybrid green cars and if this policy goes through, then ethanol will become the cheapest fuel for cars. So, like nowadays, Diesel cars cost more than Petrol cars because diesel is cheaper than petrol, similarly these Hybrid cars may be the most expensive of the lot, but the fuel and daily expenditure on the car will be comparatively the least. These green cars keep sounding better and better! Labels: Environment friendly cars, Honda, hybrid cars, Toyota
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Designed at Hyundai’s Europe's Design and Technical Center in Russelsheim, QarmaQ is Hyundai's Advanced Technology Demonstration Vehicle (ATDV) showcased at least 30 environment friendly technologies at the 2008 Auto Expo in New Delhi. The innovative solution is created to reduce severe injures in Utility Vehicles (CUV) pedestrian collisions. Everyone things of car owners, Hyundai’s innovative technology things of commoners also, thanks to that! The design concept, QarmaQ also shows environmentally responsible solutions, which is elegantly incorporated to enhance safety. Moreover, it's 2-liter diesel engine is fully compliant with EURO5 emission regulations. It sports all the latest technologies like, high-pressure fuel injection and fine fuel spray atomization for higher torque and better power output. Hyundai have definitely doing more on progressive technologies. Labels: Auto-Expo, Environment friendly cars, Hyundai
Saturday, 29 December 2007
All auto majors of the world have taken heed to the rising issue of global warming and have been researching and developing new technologies in this regard. Honda, being one of them, has been working aggressively to produce clean and green vehicles. For the coming Auto Expo in Delhi, Honda has selected the environment as its theme. Honda will showcase its popular hybrid car, the Civic Hybrid and its first fuel-cell model, the FCX. The Civic Hybrid’s powertrain will be a combination of a 20 bhp electric motor and a 95 bhp petrol engine. The car uses the cleaner motor in place of the petrol engine at initial start. As the car stops, the petrol engine is turned off automatically and power is routed to the wheels through the electric motor. This regulation of the petrol engine at start and at stop significantly contributes to reduction in fuel consumption and also cuts down on emissions. The Honda FCX first launched two years ago is the world’s first fuel cell vehicle to beg government awards and certifications. The new eco-friendly cars are expected to deliver Honda’s current commitments to the environment. Labels: Auto-Expo, Environment friendly cars, Honda, Hybrids
Monday, 10 December 2007
After Suzuki’s big guy sounded the auto world off about the safety and pollution consequences of yet-to-be-launched ultra cheap cars in India, I was wondering why Indian auto experts were silent. However, the point of concerns are different, the crux of the matter boils down to a lot of other factors characterising the changing environment and energy consuming patterns in India. Efficient technology and efficiency norms have become important, say specialists from the automobile industry. The Indian car makers are been quiet about it. Few days back even Tata tied up with ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) to develop the country’s first proto model bus powered by gas. The bus will not run on an engine, but on electric power produced out of a mix of hydrogen and oxygen. May be it’s the time for others also to pump in some money in their R&D sectors to help control environment pollution in the country, as India becomes the favourite car market in the world, beating China. Labels: Automobile research and development, Corporate social responsibilties, Environment friendly cars, Suzuki, Tata, Ultra cheap cars
Indians who are concerned about pollution levels, but can’t do away with cars, can now breathe easy and let out a cheer. US auto maker General Motors, after its recent success with its Chevrolet models in India, is now planning to release its hybrid and electric cars. Over 98 per cent of cars run on fossil fuel products, but global environment concern is driving auto companies to look for renewable, alternative power sources. GM plans to introduce these cars to India within the next five years. Initially, the Hybrid and electric cars (including Volt) will be put on display at the 9th Auto expo in New Delhi held between 10 January and 17 January. Research in the areas of Electronics, Controls, and Software (ECS) will be conducted by General Motors in a tie up with IIT Kharagpur to make the car user friendly and also cost productive. The company is planning the cost-structure for its hybrid and electric vehicles and putting other parameters in place to have a well-organized and productive R&D centre by 2010. GM has allocated more than $1 million for research to be done over the next five years within this new Collaborative Research Lab (CRL). Labels: Automobile research and development, Chevrolet, Corporate social responsibilties, Economical buy, Electronic cars, Environment friendly cars, GM, Hybrids
Friday, 7 December 2007
All efforts to creation of goodwill through corporate social responsibility activities go a long way in marketing and eventually sale of the products, according to a recent study. During the survey nearly 80 percent of Indian’s said that they would go for car makers who create employment opportunities in India and have environment friendly policies. Maruti got loads of praises for its high quality vehicles provided at low cost and its effort towards job creation in India. It was also appreciated for bringing in international brands, in joint venture with Japanese car maker Suzuki, at the same time of their international launch. The automotive sector as a whole was lauded for job creation and employee satisfaction efforts. However the survey revealed that the automobile companies need to do more for environment conservation. Reading the blogs here, it appears that GM, Honda, Toyota, and many others are planning to do just that. Article submitted by Rajesh SawantLabels: corporate social responsibilty, Environment friendly cars, Expansion in Indian auto industry, GM, Honda, Maruti, Suzuki, Toyota
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