Indian research body to help power GM, Merc cars

Global and Indian automobile giants like General Motors and Hindustan Motors have evinced keen interest in bio-diesel developed by a research institute in Bhavnagar (Gujarat) which could help power their future cars after the fuel was successfully tried on two of Mercedes Benz' models.

"German auto major Daimlyer Chrysler was the first company to come forward in April 2004 and test its two C-class Mercedes Benz cars on the bio-diesel developed by our institute," said Pushpito Kumar Ghosh, an eminent chemist and director of Bhavnagar-based Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute.

"After the Mercedes completed 6,000 kms of trial run on 100 per cent bio-diesel in 2004, excitement about this alternative fuel built up around the world," Ghosh told PTI.

"Now companies like GM, Hindustan Motors and Tatas have expressed interest in our technology which can produce outstanding quality of bio-diesel," he said. According to Ghosh, the trial runs of Mercedes cars showed that the CSMCRI's bio-diesel did not require any engine modification and can smoothly power any vehicle.

"The officials of General Motors are coming in October from the US to hold a meeting with the institute while Hindustan Motors and Tatas have written to us expressing interest in working with us on the bio-diesel," he said.

Ghosh said CSMCRI's bio-diesel developed from seeds of Jatropha plant had very similar properties to diesel (fossil fuel) and was is superior to other forms of bio-diesel developed in other countries.