Govt contemplating hybrid vehicles for public transport

  • Jul 12, 2013
  • Views : 5987
  • 2 min read

  • By Tnn
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With prices of fossil fuels increasing by the day and to counter the pollution caused by them, the Delhi Government is planning to introduce electric and hybrid vehicles for public transport

Mercedes-Benz hybrid bus

Delhi will host trials for hybrid three-wheelers , mini-buses and buses from August as the government explores the use of alternative fuel-based transport under a policy regime expected to involve subsidies to incentivize production. Also Read: Plug-in Hybrid bus under development at Volvo

A review of "strategic industries" conducted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday approved pilot projects for use of electric and hybrid vehicles for public transport as they are non-polluting and help conserve fossil fuels. A ministerial steering committee that includes Delhi's chief secretary will work out implementation modalities for the first pilot project in four weeks.

Pilot projects in other cities will follow with the results expected to help the government flesh out the national electric mobility mission announced by the PM earlier this year. The project involves electric vehicles — currently limited by the range such vehicles can run — and hybrids that use conventional fuel as well as a motor driven by a battery which captures energy usually lost during braking and decelerating.

Volvo hybrid bus

Apart from foreign car makers like Toyota that see a future in hybrids, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers has sought government support for alternative fuel technology through subsidies . "India has the potential to emerge as a global manufacturing hub for electric and hybrid vehicles," a PMO press release said.

The other initiatives agreed on including the development of a 70-100 seater commercial aircraft. To address scepticism over the ambitious venture given the fate of proposed light combat aircraft, the government intends to tie up for the engine at the earliest, sources said. The argument is that China is also on its way to developing a commercial aircraft and India needs to do the same in the next five to seven years or it may end up buying from its neighbour and remain a technological laggard.

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