Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) will unveil its hybrid vehicles in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, as part of the Indian government’s hybrid development project.This national hybrid project was initiated by the Indian government under the public-private-partnership mode (PPP) in order to develop hybrid vehicles in India.
Other auto majors like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, TVS and Bajaj are also expected to participate in the project.
MSI, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra will work on a shared technology basis in the hybrid project.
Mr C.V. Raman, Chief General Manager (Research and Development), Maruti Suzuki, said, “Under the initiative of the Department of Heavy Industries, Government of India, and the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, these companies will work in key areas such as transmissions, electronic controllers, battery and motor.”
He said that each of the four areas will have a representative from the three companies.
Mr C.V. Raman also said that the focus would probably be on high-powered lithium iron batteries that can be used with a gasoline or a diesel engine.
Mahindra & Mahindra wil bring to the table its sports utility vehicle technology while the Tatas will display the technology it uses for its heavy vehicles like buses.
MSI will will show the technology used in its passenger car models.
All three companies will then incorporate the shared know-how, on the basic areas of transmission and batteries, in their own vehicles.
MSI Managing Director and CEO Shinzo Nakanishi said, “Indian government has put in money for developing hybrid vehicles through the National Hybrid Project and we have also joined that process.”
“Our team is working on that and we will demonstrate the first hybrid vehicle in the Commonwealth Games in the next year,” he added.
The national hybrid project requires the participants to develop at least 10 hybrid vehicles and demonstrate them in the 2010 CommonWealth Games.
“Each manufacturer has to demonstrate 10 hybrid vehicles, which will be used for ferrying the players during the games. We are also developing for the same,” said Mr C V Raman.
Mr. Raman further explained that the government will foot 50 per cent of the development cost while the rest will be spent by the individual companies.
The hybrids are expected to run on CNG and electric energy. This move is also a part of the government’s green city agenda.
“Hybrid buses were a part of the system during Beijing Olympics. Delhi, too, has a green city agenda and the event (Commonwealth Games) could be used to extend our commitment to the cause,” Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta said.
In 2008, the Beijing Olympics sent out a message urging individuals and government to contribute toward the conservation of environment and toward making the planet green. This project may be the Indian government’s way of contributing toward a green planet.
The hybrid buses being developed by auto majors in India well be stationed at all 11 game venues to take participants to the concerned places.
Meanwhile, MSI has said it is aggressively pushing its small car project, which will hit the domestic market by 2011-12. The company will conceptualize, design, and develop the small car from scratch.
MSI plans to hire 1,000 engineers by 2010 from all over the world. The company also plans to develop a test track in Haryana as a part of the company’s Rs 9,000-crore expansion project.
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