Though CNG is gaining ground as a petrol substitute in India, yet the domestic automakers do not hold much faith in it. As a result, Society for Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has written to the government to ensure availability of hydrogen instead of CNG as an alternative to petrol or diesel.
Right now, due to the government subsidies the administered price paid of CNG is only around 40% of the free-market price of Rs 9,000 per million standard cubic metre. However, Siam believes that once it is introduced in the whole country then the government would find it difficult to sustain the subsidies which could escalate the price. To this issue Siam Secretary General Dilip Chenoy adds:
CNG cannot be a long-term solution, because in a free-market scenario, its price will shoot up.
Besides, Methane, a primary constituent of CNG, has higher nitrogen oxide emission levels. Auto majors like M&M, Tata and Ashok Leyland have already come up with hydrogen fuelled hybrid vehicles. Industry is also prepared to use a blend of bio-diesel with diesel, but the lack of availability of the former is restricting progress.
On the other hand, Ashok Leyland Managing Director R Seshasayee and Hyundai Vice President Marketing and Sales Arvind Saxena are of the belief that CNG provides the best alternative fuel for India.
Via: Indian Express
