IIT Madras, an institute of national importance, and Ashok Leyland, a leading manufacturer of commercial transportation owned by the Hinduja group, are collaborating to develop and market the ‘Swirl Mesh Lean Direct injection System.’ This decision is a crucial step towards developing a line of hybrid EVs using the Micro Gas Turbine. The gas turbine is an innovation by an IITM startup to offer a replacement for heavy car batteries. Researchers at NCCRD (National Centre for Combustion Research and Development) are working on this turbine technology for generating onboard power on electric trains.
Researchers have successfully tested this technology and got a letter of support from Ashok Leyland, encouraging them to optimize it for heavy passenger vehicles, starting with a 9-meter electric bus. This project focuses on developing hybrid electric vehicles that emit the least, are affordable, and offer long-range for heavy passenger or non-passenger vehicles. They are also considering fuel flexibility for this series as it’ll ease the vehicles’ marketability.
Dr. N. Saravanan, CTO of Ashok Leyland, said, talking about joining hands on the hybrid powertrain, “Micro Gas Turbines hold significant promise as a technology that will extend fuel combustion beyond traditional IC engines and provide for more efficient performance and multi-fuel capability.” This collaboration could hold the key to India’s growth in technological enhancement for electric transportation. India will be moving ahead in its transition from conventional vehicles to sustainable transport.
