Tata Motors using four CNG hybrid buses at Commonwealth Games in Delhi

Tata Motors will send four of its CNG-electric hybrid low-floor Starbuses to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) for public use during the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The automaker claims that this is the first time hybrid buses of any sort will be used for public transportation in India. In addition, Tata will supply the DTC with a fleet of 600 non-hybrid CNG-powered buses to ferry famous athletes and delegates to the games.

Tata Motors' managing director of India operations, Prakash Telang, commented on the significance of the bus trials and offered gratitude to the government of Delhi, stating:

The CNG- Electric Hybrid Tata Starbus is a result of Tata Motors' advances in alternate fuel technologies, including electric vehicles. We are grateful to the Government of Delhi and the DTC for giving us this opportunity of showcasing hybrid buses in the city of Delhi during the Commonwealth Games. We will eagerly look forward to the feedback of the DTC and passengers.

Tata envisions the CNG-electric Starbus as an ideal intra-city transporter and hopes that the bus' performance and fuel economy improvements can convince municipalities that CNG-electric is the future of mass transport. But before CNG-electric takes over, natural gas refueling stations must dot the globe and that might take a while. Hat tip to Mohan!