EPCA recommends shifting of all buses to hydrogen-cng
NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) recommended to the apex court that Delhi’s bus fleet be converted to HydrogenCNG (H-CNG) by 2020-21 to cut down on emissions.
H-CNG — a cleaner version of CNG — is a mixture comprising 82% CNG and 18% hydrogen. Tests conducted by Pune-based research organisation Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have shown that using H-CNG in BS-IV vehicles helps cut down carbon emissions by nearly 70%.
“Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Delhi transport department be directed to give a plan for use of H-CNG in the entire bus fleet of the city, with a phased in schedule (including demonstration and tests) to reduce NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) emissions. This schedule should provide for all steps to be taken within a period of 2-3 years. The objective should be to bring in H-CNG with NO2 controls for entire public transport system of buses by 2020-2021,” reads the report which EPCA submitted before the apex court on Monday.
The Supreme Court will take the final call on the matter.
On July 2, the SC directed the Delhi government and EPCA to explore the feasibility of introducing hydrogen-run buses instead of purchasing electric buses to cover the bus shortage.
“H-CNG would, however, be an intermediary step before Delhi can finally move to fuel-cell buses. In fuel cell buses, hydrogen is used to produce electricity resulting in zero emissions,” said Sunita Narain, member of EPCA.
Even though experts say H-CNG can bring down emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, it can’t cut down nitrogen dioxide emissions. In order to meet BS-VI emission norms by 2020, nitrogen dioxide emission controls will have to be put into vehicles, using aftertreatment devices, as is done in diesel vehicles, experts said.
Around 36% of NO2 emission — one of the major air pollutants in Delhi — comes from vehicles.
H-CNG, where hydrogen is blended with natural gas and then compressed to be used by vehicles, has been gaining popularity worldwide. It is in use in countries such as United States, Brazil, Canada and South Korea among others.
The recommendations were made after automobile manufacturers, oil companies and transport experts informed the Sc-appointed body that switching to hydrogen fuel cell buses may take several years . “The most promising aspect of this H-CNG technology is that it will allow for the utilisation of the existing infrastructure of Cng-buses as well as the piping network and dispensing stations. Therefore, it can be seen as the next-gen CNG,” the EPCA recommendations said.
The Niti Aayog-cii Action Plan for Clean Fuel, published in 2018, also recommends that H-CNG as an alternative fuel that will utilise the existing piped gas infrastructure in Delhi.
HCNG would, however, be an intermediary step before Delhi can finally move to fuelcell buses. In fuelcell buses, hydrogen is used to produce electricity resulting in zero emissions.