KOLKATA: After launching a retrofitted CNG bus, Bengal transport minister Firhad Hakim on Wednesday inaugurated a dual-fuel bus by driving it down a few yards at Kasba depot. The bus runs both on diesel and CNG. It will experimentally run between Kolkata and Asansol. “If the trial is successful, we will replicate the model of retrofitment in other buses,” said Firhad Hakim.
Hakim added that if the experiment was successful, the model will be replicated for both private and government buses.
“The modified engine which runs on 60% CNG and 40% diesel, will reduce the operating cost by 35 to 40%, with reduction if carbon monoxide(CO) emission by 50%, oxides of nitrogen(NOx) emission by 60%, non methane Hydrocarbon(NMHC) emission by 50% and 90% particulate emission,” said Chinmoy Chakraborty, an automobile engineer, who has retrofitted the dual-fuel engine in an old bus.
However, automobile engineering experts said otherwise. “There are research organisations to decide on the type of engine and possible retrofitment. We have no problem if it is run on CNG or only on diesel. But the engine will cause problems if the fuel is mixed,”said Professor Prabir Bose, an automobile engineering expert.
Somendra Mohan Ghosh, auto emission consultant for modified IC engines said, “Any technical modification requires type approval from authorised agencies like ARAI to earn it’s roadworthiness. I am not against any experimentation, but for the safety of people, the trial should have been on the test track, not on the city road.”
