# Overview of Clean Automotive Thermal Propulsion Options for India to 2030
## 2 The Current and Future Technological State-of-the-Art
### Alternative Fuels in India  
Alternative fuels have increased their share in the overall fuel mix as a strategy in reducing the emissions from the automotive sector [50]. An increase in the number of CNG cars in India has been observed from 23,000 cars in 2001 to 44,000 cars in 2011. However, Delhi NCR had the highest share of CNG cars i.e. 64% followed by Gujarat 18% and Maharashtra 18%. As the national Biofuels policy declared in June 2018, the aim is to increase the use of biofuels in the transport and energy sectors of the country. This policy also aims to develop next generation biofuel conversion technologies. Presently, 2% of ethanol is blended in petrol and 0.1% of biodiesel is blended in the diesel, however by the year 2030 the policy aims to blend 20% of ethanol in petrol and 5% of biodiesel in diesel respectively.  
Additionally, a report on India's vehicle emissions control program [51] states that Delhi has been at the lead in implementing CNG heavy-duty vehicles in India. The city formed the world's largestfleet of CNG powered vehicles when the number of private vehicles went up to all-time high, resulting in a substantial deterioration of air quality and serious public health concerns. In March 2001 an order was issued by the Supreme Court of India which required the entire bus fleet of Delhi to convert from diesel to CNG. Following Delhi's leadership, major cities of India such as Agra, Mumbai, Pune, Kanpur, Lucknow, Indore, Ujjain converted their bus fleet into CNG to curb the emissions. Some of the advantages of natural gas in vehicles are as follows:  
1. Significant reduction in PM and NOx in CNG powered LDV and HDV compared to conventional-fuel vehicles, no black smoke emission.
2. 20% reduction of life cycle GHG when compared with conventional fuel vehicles.
3. Cheaper compared to conventional fuels.
4. Advanced CNG technologies installed with efficient after-treatment devices will comply with Euro VI norms worldwide.  
In India, Natural Gas Vehicles will be a cost-effective way to regulate automotive emissions as low-sulphur fuels are not available in India. Moreover, India has good natural gas reserves compared to petroleum reserves, although the country imports both. Biofuels also refer to the fossil fuel additives and or alternative fuels that are produced from biological sources such as sugarcane which is used in producing ethanol and biodiesel from waste oil, animal fats. The advantages of biofuels include the displacement of conventional fuels and the fact that they can be produced from some of the renewable resources with low-carbon raw materials which in turn can reduce GHG emissions.  
In India, alternative fuels are an attractive solution, since companies are already developing dual fuel hydrogen vehicle technology sponsored by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) [52]. In addition, MNRE is promoting the use of Biogas with numerous benefits such as governmental financial help and concessions in import and excise duty for ten years. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has been promoting a setup for the natural gas distribution infrastructure in different cities with small scale enterprises alongside numerous benefits to CNG companies. India in this way, has been in favour of producing and promoting alternative fuels in controlling the emissions to address climate change in recent years.