3. Present Status:
Awareness of fuel conservation in STU’s is at its peak and all efforts are being made to achieve challenging results year after year. The average fuel consumption combined for all STUs together has improved from 4.07 kmpl during 1983-84 to 4.25 kmpl during 1988-89. 4.95 kmpl achieved by GSRTC is the best performance for 1988-89.
ASRTU, CIRT, PCRA,GSRTC,APSRTC,BEST,DTC,KSRTC and ASTC have been quite active in fuel conservation, and have set records.
Management control practices of GSRTC, maintenance practices of BEST and the training aspects at other can be treated as good models for others to emulate.
Trials for use of alternate fuels, duel fuel engines etc. have been quite encouraging (Chapter 7). However, lot more work needs to be done before implementation at commercial levels.
The estimated savings as a result of improved fuel performance with reference to the base year 1982-83 were Rs. 5.97 crores in 1983-82, Rs. 6.45 crores in 1984-85, Rs. 15.28 crores in 1985-86, Rs. 31.17 crores in 1986-87, Rs. 38.34 crores in 1987-88 and Rs. 44.69 in 1988-89.
4. Trends abroad do not give significant inputs for India as the priorities in the developed countries are the safety and comfort. Fuel efficiency has already been built in the design and the system. Further regular up gradation of technology in all the spheres of “automobiles” is taking care of this aspect automatically.
Developments such as Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), electronic muffles. Magnesium clutch housing, light and aerodynamic bodies, forward control, lighter and long lasting batteries and tyres, auto stop/start, hydraulic gear boxes and plastic engineers etc. be kept in view (refer Chapter 5) and be evaluated on continuous basis for suitability to Indian scenario.
Looking at developing countries, it emerges very clearly that driving habits maintenance, management practices and road conditions are the areas that need to be focused. Back
