The world is concerned about global warming and the burning of fossil fuel that contributes to it. This was pretty evident at the just-concluded 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi where the Nano, Tata’s innovative small-sized, small-priced car, drew as much appreciation as opprobrium for its potential to increase greenhouse gas emission. Of course, carbon count is a term that is being increasingly bandied about, but it is pleasing to see that Indian auto companies are not lagging behind in launching greener technologies.

Among the first off the block, Mahindra & Mahindra unveiled its eco-friendly Scorpio and Bolero at the Auto Expo, shattering the myth that SUVs and multi-utility vehicles are guzzlers and polluters. The Scorpio now comes as both a diesel-electric hybrid and a biodiesel vehicle, while the Bolero has been fitted to run on biodiesel. The biodiesel variants are now available in the market, the hybrids will hit the roads in 18-24 months. “Alternate power train vehicles, especially hybrid vehicles, are our near-term solution to reducing pollution and fuel consumption,” says Pawan Goenka, president, Automotives, about his company, Mahindra’s business plans for the future.

The biofuel that the Scorpio and Bolero use is jatropha diesel. The eco-friendly fuel, which emits much lower carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxide, is available in small quantities in parts of the country. But isn’t that a problem? Dr Arun Jaura, senior vice-president, R&D and Global Product Development, Mahindras, agrees. But he adds, “Biodiesel may not be available in commercial quantities, but as manufacturers we cannot wait for availability of the fuel to develop a technology that uses it.” Till the time jatropha fuel is more readily available, the vehicles can run on normal diesel or other biofuels.

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