Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, unveiled the pilot trial of MD15 buses and prototype launch of M100 (100% methanol) at an event organised by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) at Vidhana Soudha on March 12.
BMTC along with NITI Aayog, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Ashok Leyland are conducting the project, an official said. “This will eventually lead to a considerable reduction in emission levels,” he added.
BMTC plans to induct 80 methanol-run buses for the pilot project. Out of them, 20 Ashok Leyland buses will be inducted in the first phase and will be followed by other bus manufacturers once they enter into an agreement with NITI Aayog. IOC will provide free diesel and methanol for three months for the pilot project. The 15 percent methanol in diesel is expected to reduce pollution. The event also saw the launch of a prototype of the M100 (100 percent methanol) truck. Methanol can be produced from natural gas, coal as well as municipal waste and biomass.
“The concept of ‘Methanol Economy’ is being actively pursued by China, Italy, Sweden, Israel, the US, Australia, Japan and many other European countries. 10 percent of fuel in China in the transport sector is Methanol,” said a NITI Aayog document.
