FLEXDI POTENTIALLY CAPABLE OF THIS...

FLEXDI POTENTIALLY CAPABLE OF THIS
http://www.flexdi.com/flexdi-solution-gaseous-fuel.asp

MUMBAI: Leading automobile manufacturers are developing engines that run on compressed natural gas (CNG) as the availability of natural gas is
expected to double by this year-end.

The supply of natural gas is likely to go up to 200 mmscmd by this year with 80 mmscmd flowing from Reliance Industries’ Krishna Godavari basin.

IV Rao, managing executive officer (Engineering), Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) confirmed the company’s plan to develop CNG-driven cars. He told ET, “We are developing engines that would run on CNG. By early 2010, we will introduce CNG-driven cars in each of the segments we operate.” For that, Mr Rao said, MSIL is in talks with gas RIL and GAIL, producer and transported of gas, respectively. A RIL person confirmed talks with automakers but refused to divulge details.

“Initially, we were focussed on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). But CNG seems to be the future. Although the CNG-enabled cars would be a bit costly, their running cost will be lower than that of LPG,“ added Mr Rao.

Mahindra & Mahindra and Hyundai are also working on the same line. An M&M official said the company is ready to launch CNG-driven small commercial vehicles. However, he is not sure how fast the market for CNG-driven cars would grow as it would depend on regulations and infrastructure development. Hyandai and Nissan Motors officials said they were exploring the possibility of developing CNG-run cars.

Presently, no automaker sells cars with CNGrun engines. However, some of the cars can be converted into CNG-driven vehicles, thanks to the auto companies’ arrangements with some local vendors. RIL has started pumping out gas from its KG basin last month.