Ashok Leyland’s Hosur testing unit to focus on alternate fuel tech

Recognising the market movement towards greener fuel options, commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland has announced some new initiatives specific to alternate fuels. The company plans to roll out a number of CVs powered by CNG and LNG, both substantially cheaper than diesel and also far more environment-friendly.

Powertrains today are predominantly driven by IC engines – petrol and diesel. Over the next decade, alternative powertrains including battery electric and fuel cell electric will emerge.  Ashok Leyland says it has dedicated teams focusing on the development of these future powertrains.

To sharpen its focus  on alternate fuels, the company has dedicated its existing testing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu to exclusively focus on alternate fuels. Commenting on the alternate fuel strategy, Vipin Sondhi, MD and CEO, Ashok Leyland said, “As we march towards our vision of being among the Top 10 Global CV makers, it is equally important that we do this sustainably. Our mission is to positively impact humanity and conserve the environment through sustainable energy and mobility solutions. Future mobility is moving towards alternate fuel technology, and the Hosur testing facility, managed by a talented and capable team, will help drive Ashok Leyland’s green mobility future.”

Dr N Saravanan, CTO, Ashok Leyland, added, “On alternate fuel options, we are already seeing a push for CNG and LNG, and expect other fuels such as methanol and hydrogen to start replacing fossil fuels. At Ashok Leyland, we are working on the development of all the above alternate fuel technologies, while we continue to make our IC engines more efficient.”

Meanwhile, Switch Mobility, Ashok Leyland's electric mobility division, is witnessing strong demand for its products. In the past two weeks, Switch Mobility has delivered 40 electric buses to Chandigarh city and has also bagged an order to supply 300 e-buses to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport.