Monday, January 9, 2012

Auto Expo 2012: Mahindra launches hydrogen-powered three-wheeler

Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) on Monday launched the world's first hydrogen-fuel-run three-wheelerHyAlfa that will ply in Delhi soon. 

"As part of its mobility initiatives, Mahindra has aimed at providing alternative fuel technology solutions and the HyAlfa is another step towards it," said Pawan Goenka, president of the company's automotive and farm equipment sectors. 

The company did not divulge the price of the vehicle which was unveiled at the Auto Expo here.


According to Goenka, a fleet of 15 vehicles have been manufactured. "We have prepared 15 vehicles for integration of the optimised engine, storage system, fuelling system and safety features for this hydrogen-fuel-enabled vehicle." 

The vehicles will be refuelled at a station set up by US-based Air Products located at Pragati Maidan, where the fleet will operate. 

The hydrogen-powered rickshaws and the refuelling station have been established under a project that aims to produce vehicles that would carry and use hydrogen, a carbon-free fuel, thereby reducing pollution. 

Goenka added, that the company is currently developing a host of vehicles that can run on alternate-technologies such as electric, hybrid and fuel cells. 

"We are already working on integrating a comprehensive eco-system of sustainable mobility solutions, encompassing alternative technologies such as electric, hybrid and fuel cells into our research, development and commercialization plans." 

The vehicle has costed $1 million in development over a span of three years, with half the expenditure being co-funded by the UNIDO and International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies (UNIDO-ICHET) based in IstanbulTurkey

No comments:

Post a Comment