The new LNG-powered buses from Tata Motors is set for launch in the country in April 2017. The first of its kind in the country, these LNG buses will be produced at the company’s Lucknow plant from where the CNG buses are also produced while bus body will be made at the Dharwar plant.
Tata Motors is in the process of getting regulatory approvals and sanctions from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) for these LNG-powered buses.
In terms of usage, these LNG buses would have an added advantage over CNG variants due to the fact that dead weight of a CNG cylinder as against a cryogenic cylinder varies vastly. With a full tank, an LNG bus can travel upto 700 kms in a single filling while a CNG bus offers just around 200 kms per cylinder. Tata Motors LNG-powered buses weigh much less as compared to those powered by conventional fuels thus augmenting payload levels.
LNG powered (Liquified Natural Gas) buses have a host of advantages over its conventional fueled counterparts. The Tata Motors LPO1613 bus is lighter in weight, offers enhanced payloads and efficiently contributes towards decreased emissions while at the same time offers better fuel efficiency. Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) levels are also better allowing for enhanced passenger comfort.
Tata Motors Engineering Head, Ajit Jindal has confirmed that the LNG-powered buses will be initially sold as fully built up units of 9 meters with 35 seating capacity or 12 meters with 50 seating capacity. The company is also in talks with Petronet LNG and Indian Oil to set up fuelling stations.
