New Delhi: In a move that would further embolden government's efforts for greener fuel usage by automakers, German giant Mercedes-Benz has proposed to shift its diesel cars and other vehicles in India to the environment friendly biodiesel.
"Mercedes has given me a letter that they can use 100 per cent bio-diesel in their cars and trucks...," Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said today.
Gadkari said Mercedes India chief had met him and said that the standards "which we have prescribed for bio-diesel, Mercedes can use that in its cars and other vehicles".
The minister said that major automobile companies like JCB and others too have shown their willingness to use bio-diesel, ethanol and other such products, which would be a major step in minimising high pollution levels.
Gadkari said it would be his ministry's initiative to promote such bio-fuel and it will also be encouraged in use of highways building machinery and equipment.
As per a recent government draft notification on use of biodiesel, newly manufactured vehicles fitted with compression ignition engine compatible to run on diesel or mixture of biodiesel up to 100% biodiesel will be type approved as per the prevailing diesel emission standards.
However, the final notification from the road transport and highways ministry on 100% use of biodiesel is yet to come.
The Supreme Court in December imposed a temporary ban on the sale of diesel sports utility vehicles and high-end vehicles with engine capacity of over 2,000 cc in an effort to combat toxic smog in India's capital.
Automobile giants like Mercedes, Toyota, Mahindra and General Motors have failed to get any relief from the Supreme Court, which extended till April 30 the bar on registration of diesel-run SUVs and high-end cars with engine capacity of 2000 CC and above in the National Capital Region. The bar was put in December and was to continue till March 31.
(PTI inputs)
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