Switch to dual fuel next yr

The switch to dual fuel for vehicles, consisting of hydrogen and CNG, will happen by next year.

“In the next 12–15 months, we expect the commercial usage of dual fuel across vehicles,” said Pawan Goenka, president of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and president of Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M).

Goenka was speaking on the sidelines of today’s ‘4th Environment Friendly Vehicles Conference’.

The fuel mixture would consist of 10–15 per cent of hydrogen and the balance contributed by CNG.

The move, spearheaded both by SIAM and the government, is aimed at reducing the emission of noxious oxides by CNG fuelled vehicles, and for better fuel combustion.

Currently, around 2 million vehicles powered by CNG fuel operate in the country out of which Delhi has the highest population of CNG vehicles.

Automobile manufacturers like Mahindra & Mahindra, Ashok Leylank, Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, and Bajaj Auto are part of the pilot studies for dual fuel usage that is currently underway.