Renewable energy push: India set to allow 100% bio-diesel for vehicles

NEW DELHI: In a bid to push higher use of renewable energy, India is set to allow 100% bio-diesel for vehicles.

The decision will pave way for manufacture of new engines that can use this fuel. The compatibility of vehicle to level of bio-diesel blend will be defined by the vehicle manufacturer and the same will also be displayed on the vehicle, the ministry of road transport and highways said in a notiication.

Vehicle manufacturers will submit the vehicle to the test agencies specified by the government for type approval.

The government has already sent the draft notification of the same to law ministry for vetting.

As per the government notification, the newly manufactured vehicles fitted with compression ignition engine compatible to run on diesel or mixture of bi-diesel up to 100% bio-diesel (B 100) will be type approved as per the prevailing diesel emission standards.

These standards have been long awaited by the industry especially those manufacturing bio-diesel and will provide alternate source of income to the farmers and the forest dwellers.

Large areas of degraded land in the country have a vast potential of producing bio-diesel which can be utilised as a source of fuel for transportation in the country.