Methanol Blending to cut Carbon-di-oxide Emissions

Biofuels are being considered an alternative to reduce the country’s crude oil imports worth Rs7 lakh crore. They can also be a potential weapon to fight increasing pollution. The findings of the research by the Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have substantiated the potential reduction in the emissions of the carbon-di-oxide by the adoption of methanol blending.

Research by the Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI)

Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) conducted a study using 15% M-15 methanol blend in vehicles and tested them for 3,000km to evaluate emissions in real-world conditions as well as check the performance of the vehicles.
The outcomes of the study showed that methanol blending with petrol in the existing BS-IV standard cars resulted in the reduction of the carbon-di-oxide emissions substantially.
The study also found that hydrocarbon emission reduced marginally, with a slight increase in the levels of nitrogen oxides.
The findings of the research were submitted to Union Minister of  Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. The Minister assured full support for ARAI in furthering the methanol blending programme, reiterating the government’s commitment to increase the methanol blending to 20% by the year 2030.

Month: Current Affairs - January, 2019