Imagine a scenario when CNG fuelled buses in Indian metro cities ply beyond their usual 200-300 km distance. What if they were able to cover 1000 or 1200 km distance to and fro a neighbouring city?
Now, this is possible. US-based Agility Fuel Solutions and Advantek Fuel Systems, India have joined hands to package, store and deliver alternative fuels including CNG to Indian customers.
Over the last 20 years, Agility Fuel Solutions has made a name for itself for its world-class solutions in packaging energy – be it natural gas, methane, propane or hydrogen fuel, or electricity – and storing it in a Type-4 composite cylinder or a battery pack and delivering it safely. Advantek has the advantage of supplying CNG systems to almost all the OEMs in India except for storage solutions. Together, the two will provide CNG products and services to the CV market in India.
If with Agility’s entrance, Indian CV sector finds CNG as a fuel of choice because of the easier accessibility in lightweight tanks, then Advantek’s long standing relationship with bus and truck manufacturers may help push CNG adoption at a faster rate.
India – The attractive market
What makes India an attractive destination for Agility is that the Indian market is already a CNG user.
Mr. Eric Bippus, Sr. VP – Sales & Marketing, Agility Fuel Solutions, said: “In India, long haul trips using CNG are now possible using our lightweight tanks. We are already working on prototypes with OEMs because of our partnership with Advantek through whom we have the access to the fleets as well.”
Mr. Vishal Singhal, Director, Advantek Fuel Systems, said: “Almost 80 per cent of the commercial CNG vehicles produced in India are using our technology today. With our strategic partnership with Agility, we get access to the best storage system besides the world class technology on fuel systems.”
Unlike buses, heavy duty trucks in India are not yet available on CNG because the heavy weight of the Type 1 steel CNG tanks used in India cuts into the payload of the truck. The Agility-Advantek partnership is looking at reducing the CNG storage system weight by 70 per cent by using Type-4 tanks, making CNG an attractive fuel option even for the truck segment.
Retro-fitting – An opportunity
The partnership is keen on retro fitting as a business avenue for buses mainly. Agility and Advantek are working together to create the best possible solution and their ultimate aim is to serve the huge state run transportation bodies.
Mr. Bippus further explained: “Retro fitting allows us to take an existing bus or a platform and convert that either from Type-1 CNG storage to Type-4, or from diesel to CNG. This allows us quicker entry and acceptance in the market place, and we can then push those solutions to the OEMs.”
Mr. Singhal shared: “Other than the storage solutions, equally important is the safety aspect and we are working on reducing the number of joints by 50 per cent to discourage leakages using our combined technologies.”
Going Forward
Perhaps the biggest game changer will be the transition to BS 6 which is slated to be implemented in 2020.
According to Mr. Singhal: “This is the right time for OEMs to package the CNG tanks and technologies on their vehicles because their vehicles will have to get validated for the BS 6 compliance. This way they will be ready with the right technology for their customers. Also, the components are now certified so that level is crossed, now we are proceeding to get engine or vehicle level certification done.”
Currently, the partnership is working with the OEMs on demo projects and with Indian test agencies like ARAI simultaneously.
To address a potential challenge in terms of local representation and support, the partnership is planning to soon establish a commercial entity and manufacturing center in India.
With their success story already written and accepted around the globe, it is only a matter of time that Agility-Advantek partnership takes off on a high note in India too.