India''s first 4-stroke three wheeler from Bajaj Auto

India's leading two- and three-wheeler company, Bajaj Auto Ltd, contributed its mite in the country's war against pollution, by launching its indigenous, most emission friendly three-wheeler, a 4-stroke compressed natural gas (CNG) run vehicle, in the capital city of New Delhi. This launch helps meet the Supreme Court's order requiring all pre-1990 public transport three-wheelers and taxis' to be replaced with new vehicles operating on clean fuel.

The first batch of these three-wheelers, which are to be used as public transport "autorickshaws" in the capital, was flagged off by the chief minster of Delhi, Ms. Shiela Dikshit.

The vehicle is powered by a 175cc 4-stroke single OHC engine, and is the first of its kind in the world and meets the stringent India 2000-emission norms applicable w.e.f. April 01, 2000. The combination of a 4-stroke engine with CNG as fuel, is expected to give the cleanest possible alternative to tackle the overwhelming pollution problem in the capital city.

*As per last values obtained.

According to senior officials of Bajaj Auto, the company has been continuously working on developing environment friendly vehicles in their R&D facilities, for many years. The 4-Stroke CNG vehicle is the culmination of the relentless efforts of the company's engineers to deliver the benefit to the public at large. Bajaj Auto is also said to be working on various other alternative fuel technologies in order to ensure that environment friendly vehicles are available across the country.

The CNG run autorikshaw, attractively priced at Rs. 73.215, with its excellent fuel efficiency and low running cost will benefit not only the residents of Delhi but also the autorikshaw operators. The vehicles are said to deliver excellent fuel efficiency of more than 50 Kms per kg of CNG under actual running conditions. Besides, the cost of fuel for running the vehicle at approximately 25 paise per km would be one-fourth the cost of petrol, as a result of which there is likely to be conservation in petroleum.