PM Diesels to launch CNG, LPG engines

Rajkot-based PM Diesels Ltd (PMDL), which manufactures diesel engines under the `Fieldmarshal' brand, is set to launch CNG (compressed natural gas) and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) engines.

"Engines of vehicles operating on petrol can easily be converted to gas using a conversion kit or a catalytic converter but it is not so with diesel. Therefore, we have developed a specialised set of mechanism in our gas engines, which would operate using LPG and CNG as fuels," said S S Jogelakar, president, PMDL.

The company has presented the models for certification at the Automobiles Research Association of India (ARAI) - Pune.

Once certified, the company plans to supply the gas engines to leading automotive manufactures including Bajaj, Piaggio, Force, Mahindra & Mahindra, Scooters India among others.

After acquiring Rajkot-based three-wheeler company Panchnath Automobiles Limited (PAL) last August, PMDL has been aggressive in the research and development of the gas version of engines as the company proposes to roll-out CNG and LPG versions of three-wheelers under its tag.

"At present, we manufacture 500 engines a month under the Fieldmarshal-PAL tag, mainly of 500 kg capacity, but very soon we will be launching 350 kg, 700 kg and a 1 metric tonne capacity range increasing our productionline by at least 1,000 vehicles a month in CNG and LPG versions," said Deepak Patel, marketing director, PMDL.

The company, which has a production capacity of 30-40 gas engines a day, will also be increasing it to at least 100 engines in the coming few years, said Jogelakar.

The company plans to convert at least 5,000 vehicles to CNG or LPG in Rajkot alone, followed by 40,000-50,000 across 21 districts in Gujarat after Ahmedabad, Baroda, Bharuch and Surat. It is aiming at a vehicle base of 3-5 lakh across the country.