Tatas, Canada in CNG bus foray

The project will feature six buses designed for transit and inter-city applications.

Tata Motors and ATF Advanced Technologies & Fuels Canada (Atfcan) have tied up to launch a compressed natural gas (CNG) bus demonstration project in New Delhi.

The project will feature six buses designed for transit and inter-city applications fitted with advanced CNG engine and fuel storage systems. Work on the project will begin immediately and the demonstration buses will start rolling in January 2007.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect has been signed today in New Delhi by Rodney Semotiuk, president and chief executive officer, ATFCAN and AP Arya, president, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, Tata Motors.

Two Canadian companies, Cummins Westport Inc (CWI) of Vancouver and Dynetek Industries of Calgary will respectively provide new engines and lightweight compressed natural gas storage systems.

"Our goal is to develop and facilitate technology solutions for sustainable development, protecting the environment and continually improving operating economy," said Arya.

The replacement of current CNG and diesel engines with new lean-burn CNG engines will translate into substantially lower emissions, higher fuel efficiency and reliable performance.

The new roof-mounted cylinders are more than 60 per cent lighter than those currently in use and will provide bus operators with extended driving range, as well as improved vehicle fuel economy.

Tata Motors has been manufacturing and marketing CNG buses since 2000, a significant step in Indian road transportation to improve emission standards and to offer better fuel economy.

More than 60 per cent of buses plying in Delhi are Tata Motors CNG buses. The company has introduced CNG buses also in Mumbai and Gujarat. The company is also experimenting with buses run on bio-diesel in Pune.