The New Indian Express 18.11.2009
MTC plans to try out biofuel
CHENNAI: Taking a leaf out of Delhi’s book, the Tamil Nadu Transport Department (TNTD) has decided to go in for an eco-friendly transport fuel system. The only difference: TNTD intends to use biofuel instead of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) used in Delhi.
The project to develop an affordable biofuel has been undertaken by the Institute for Road Transport Technology, Erode, which is run by the TNTD along with Anna University. An MTC bus will soon be fitted with a modified engine for the test run with biofuel. The research has been funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Delhi.
“Biofuel is based on the derivates of vegetable oil. It not only reduces pollution, but also enhances vehicle performance. Biofuel can drastically reduce emissions of noxious gases, such as nitrous oxide,” said Krishnamurthy, joint director, Institute of Road Transport.
Two species of plants, Pongamia and Jatropha, were used to develop the biofuel. If the project is implemented on a large scale, it would require mass cultivation of these crops. A source from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board hailed the project, but questioned its viability. “Developing the product and setting up biofuel dispensation stations all over the city would require a lot of money. It could make the project unwieldy,” the source said. Krishnamurthy, however, claimed that a slight modification of the existing was sufficient to support biofuel.