Tata Motors is looking at options to use hydrogen in the conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) to manage tailpipe emissions. Rajendra Petkar, President & CTO, Tata Motors, at the unveiling of 14 new products today, said the company is studying various options to blend hydrogen with fossil fuel and use it in ICE.
For some time now, Tata Motors has been working on using hydrogen as a fuel in the ICE, which Petkar called H2ICE. “The technology is currently in the development stage and will take some time; but surely, it will be an important stepping stone in achieving net-zero ambitions.' Petkar said. The roadmap for the company is diesel, followed by CNG, Bio-CNG, Ethanol-blended Gasoline, LNG, Battery Electric and Fuel Cell. Talking about the possibilities of blending hydrogen with CNG, he said, though blending up to 18% is permitted, the challenge is the availability of hydrogen.
In addition, Tata Motors will also be looking actively at hydrogen fuel cells. Recalling the company showcasing fuel cell bus many years back, he said it is working on the contract to support the needs of certain customers.
New Products
As part of its initiative to address the growing need for safer transportation that supports the country’s infrastructure, improves fuel efficiency, expands alternate fuel solutions and enhances safety, the CV maker launched 14 products today.
The products launched include a range of India’s first CNG-powered Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV) trucks and a new series of advanced Intermediate & Light Commercial Vehicle (I&LCV) tippers and trucks. Moreover, it introduced a new-age, Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), besides enriching its range of Prima, Signa and Ultra trucks with innovative features to enhance driving comfort.
With the new range of products, Tata Motors is rescripting transportation through its innovative solutions and introducing new-age technologies, powertrains and aggregates to deliver enhanced value to customers. Available in many fully-built body options of load bodies, tippers, tankers, bulkers and trailers, these M&HCV and I&LCV trucks cater to a wide range of goods movement and applications across diverse sectors – agriculture, cement, iron & steel, container, vehicle carrier, petroleum, chemical, water tankers, LPG, FMCG, white goods, perishables, construction, mining and municipal applications.
According to Girish Wagh, Executive Director, Tata Motors, these products were launched to service the evolving multi-application needs, especially of the rapidly growing logistics and infrastructure sectors. He said the company is creating a new paradigm of functionality, productivity, connectivity, safety and performance by continually introducing future-ready products, services and solutions.
ADAS
Adapted to the unique Indian conditions, the ADAS in the new products of Tata Motors offers a collision mitigation system, lane departure warning, electronic stability control, driver alerts and tyre pressure monitoring.
The M&HCV and I&LCV range of trucks come equipped with Fleet Edge, the next-gen digital solution for optimal fleet management.
CNG Powered MHCV
Following the success of its CNG portfolio of SCV, I&LCV and buses, Tata Motors introduced India’s first CNG-powered M&HCVs in the 28 and 19-tonne nodes. The new Signa CNG trucks offer the optimal combination of low operational costs, high durability and multiple-use applications resulting in higher profitability. These environment-friendly CNG models are also available with varied wheelbase and load deck length options and cowl options for cabin customisation. These models are powered by the proven 5.7-litre SGI engine generating peak power of 180hp and torque of 650Nm, come with a modular architecture and offer a range of up to 1,000 km.
Tata Motors’ trucks with ADAS set a new trend in comfort, styling, safety, ergonomics and ease of operations. The Prima that was launched today has several passive safety features, including Collision Mitigation System (CMS) and Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) developed with extensive validation, especially for Indian operating conditions. The vehicle also offers additional safety features like Driver Monitoring System (DMS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
The new Prima range also comes with an ergonomically redesigned cabin offering improved driving comfort and convenience features for enhanced driver and vehicle safety. These enhancements will significantly lower accidents, increase driving comfort and facilitate safer cargo movement across the country.
I&LCV
The seven new fuel-efficient diesel and CNG trucks and tippers under the FE Series offer better application-oriented solutions with more vehicle weight and deck lengths options. Designed to enhance the profit potential of their owners as well as to improve the driveability and durability, these trucks incorporate key technological advancements, including optimised drivelines, low viscous rear axle oil, e-viscous radiator fan, gearshift advisor and low rolling resistance tyre.
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