Ashok Leyland and IIT Madras colab

Photo : Times Now Digital

In this new category of EVs the main powertrain will be the electric motors but compared to other types of EVs we have today there will be major difference in their power source. Here generating the onboard power will be the Micro Gas Turbine, developed jointly by NCCRD and Aerostrovilos Energy, an IITM startup. In these EVs the Micro Gas Turbine will replace the large battery packs as the power source.

Ashok Leyland signed a letter of support to develop this technology for the heavy vehicles segment with NCCRD, IIT Madras after the technology was demonstrated on a lab scale . As part of the collaboration, Ashok Leyland, handed over to NCCRD a 9-meter passenger electric bus today (10th October 2022).

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, received the bus on behalf of NCCRD, IIT Madras, from Dr. N. Saravanan, Chief Technology Officer, Ashok Leyland, and Mr. Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Senior Vice President, Product Development, Ashok Leyland. This bus would be converted as part of the series of vehicles having the hybrid powertrain with the micro gas turbine developed by NCCRD and Aerostrovilos.

Speaking about this collaboration, Dr. N. Saravanan, CTO, Ashok Leyland, said, “Micro Gas Turbines hold significant promise as a technology that will extend fuel combustion beyond traditional IC Engines and provide for more efficient performance and multi-fuel capability. Ashok Leyland is proud to be associated with IIT Madras and Aerostrovilos in this development effort.”

Highlighting the key outcomes from this collaboration, Prof. Sathya Chakravarthy, Coordinator, NCCRD, IIT Madras, said, “This marks our conviction of not only working with the industry on innovative technological solutions of societal impact but also pushing the inhouse developments on innovation to see the light of day with the industry.”

This collaboration will enable the development and demonstration of a series of vehicles with hybrid concept equipped with this Micro Gas Turbine call the ‘Turbine electric vehicle’ (TEV). The aim of this project is to establish a power train that has ultra-low emissions, low cost of ownership, fuel flexible and a reliable system for long-range heavy vehicles.

The new micro turbine electric vehicles aims to work their way around the the battery powered EVs and provide a lighter powertrain with better weight-to-power ratio, have ultra-low emissions, boast multiple fuel capabilities (eg. Biogas, CNG, LNG, Diesel, Hydrogen etc. ), and provide a lower cost of ownership.