The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification seeking views and comments on its plan to include hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas (H-CNG) as an automobile fuel. The use of H-CNG has been gaining traction worldwide with an ideal blend of 185 hydrogens. It is effective in lowering emissions as compared to fuels such as petrol and diesel, thereby promoting green fuel for automobiles in the country.
As per a report by Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA), about 20-30 per cent of hydrogen is being blended with natural gas and then compressed to dispense into vehicles worldwide. Countries such as US, Brazil, Canada, South Korea have conducted trials and found that emissions from buses have been reduced using H-CNG.
Earlier, Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Automotive Research Association of India had also carried out tests with the vehicle engine passing endurance tests. H-CNG is a promising technology as it can be set up in different locations, such as petrol pumps or bus depots. Besides, it allows for the utilisation of the existing infrastructure of CNG buses as well as the piping network and dispensing station. According to EPCA, it can be seen as the next-generation CNG for cleaner air.