Tata Motors develops country’s first Bio-Methane Bus

Auto Major Tata Motors on 17 July 2017 rolled out the country’s first Bio-CNG (bio-methane) bus. The bus was rolled out at the Bio-energy programme, called ‘Urja Utsav’, which was organised by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.

India’s first Bio-Methane bus was rolled out in the presence of Minister of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal.

About country’s first Bio-Methane Bus

• The bus was designed by Tata Motors, which is India’s largest Commercial Vehicles manufacturer and the number one bus brand across the country.

• The bio-methane engines (5.7 SGI & 3.8 SGI) will be available 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.

Benefit of the Bio-Methane

The bus will help in catering to the need for a greener country by providing an alternate fuel technology. Its use will contribute in a positive manner to the Smart Cities proposition of keeping them clean. It is also a good option for wet garbage management.

Operating engines on bio-methane will also help promote Government of India’s Smart City initiative.

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.

Contributions of TATA motors in the field of environment friendly transport

Tata Motors has pioneered the introduction of natural gas vehicles (CNG) in the country. For past two decades it 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.