Tata Motors announces launch of Bio-Methane bus

Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan flagging off the country’s first Bio-Methane Bus produced by Tata Motors. Image Source: Tata Motors

Key Highlights:

The Bio-Methane has been developed for LCV, ICV and MCV.

The bus was unveiled at the Bio-energy programme - Urja Utsav.

Bio-methane is produced out of bio-degradable materials like kitchen waste.

Commercial Vehicles manufacturer, Tata Motors on Monday announced the launch of a Bio-CNG bus.

“Tata Motors, India’s largest Commercial Vehicles manufacturer and the No 1 Bus Brand yet again showcased a class-leading technology innovation-country’s first Bio-CNG Bus at the Bio-energy programme, called ‘Urja Utsav’,” the company said.

Tata Motors has designed the bio-methane engines for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV), Intermediate commercial vehicle (ICV) and Medium commercial vehicles (MCV).

“Tata Motors has designed and developed bio-methane engines (5.7 SGI & 3.8 SGI) for LCV, ICV & MCV buses. Displayed at the event were three engines, along with the lead model; Tata LPO 1613 with 5.7 SGI NA BS-IV IOBD-II compliant bus. The Tata LPO 1613, already in operation by PMPML (Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited) was showcased with bio-methane fuel at the event,” the company said.

“We are delighted to present yet another product with innovation in alternate fuel technologies, to cater to the need for a greener country. The use of Bio-CNG will contribute in a positive manner to the Smart Cities proposition of keeping them clean and is a good option for wet garbage management,” said Girish Wagh, Head, Commercial Vehicles Business,Tata Motors.

The Urja Utsav was organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). Minister Dharmendra Pradhan PNG and Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal were present at the meet.

The company said, “Tata Motors has pioneered the introduction of natural gas vehicles (CNG) in the country, for close to two decades and has introduced several technologies in CNG engines related to vehicle performance and safety including sequential gas injection technology, skip fire, plug type coils, long life spark plugs and longer oil drain intervals.”

“The showcase of the Bio-Methane bus is a step towards developing environment friendly vehicles. Bio-methane is produced out of bio-degradable materials like kitchen waste. This gas, which gets produced out of natural degradation process, escapes into the atmosphere unused. However, if this is trapped and used in engines, it reduces the net impact on environment and at the same time produces useful power,” said Rajendra Petkar, Head- Power System, Engineering, Tata Motors,

“Moving towards gas power will not only contribute majorly towards decreasing emissions for a cleaner environment, but operating engines on bio-methane will also help promote Government of India’s Smart City initiative,” the company said in a release.