A recent study conducted by researchers from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), George Washington University, and the University of Colorado Boulder in the US estimated that vehicle tailpipe emissions were linked to about 385,000 premature deaths from ambient PM 2.5 and ozone worldwide in 2015. An estimated 70 percent of these occurred in the four largest vehicle markets -- China, India, the EU, and the US.

While the figures paint a grim picture, we see no urgency in bringing about an immediate improvement in air quality standards. The government of India has put a long-term policy focus on shifting to electricity as a transport fuel. However, this will bear fruits only after at least a decade of work and infrastructure development. As we wait for electric vehicles, we must not lose the opportunity to use the readily available cleaner fuels such as auto LPG which can clean the urban air faster.

In the wait for the roll-out of EVs, India is missing on the immediate environmental benefits of auto LPG, an easily deployable source of transport power. It emits up to 120 times less particulate emissions than diesel vehicles; 96 percent less nitrogen dioxides (NOx) than diesel and 68 percent less NOx than petrol. It is also more than 30 percent cheaper than petrol. Over 26 million vehicles across 70 countries run on auto LPG. South Korea sells 4 million tonnes of this fuel annually. In the US, Russia, Japan and China, governments incentivize auto gas usage with tax breaks on sales, excise, registration, parking and road use charges.

Two-wheelers

More than 40 percent of vehicular pollution in Delhi comes from two-wheelers. Across the country, 2-wheelers account for more than 75 percent of vehicles on roads. We need to start pushing two-wheelers towards cleaner fuels as well. Auto LPG makes for the most viable alternative. The 2-wheeler conversion kit is available for about INR 5000-5500 along with a convenient side fitment of the LPG Tank.

Promote Gaseous Fuels

While a large number of buses and public transport vehicles in several cities are running on CNG, it is also necessary to convert a substantial number of private vehicles to gaseous fuels. Rapidly shifting to a mix of CNG and auto LPG is an easier task than shifting to EVs. While the government supports CNG through the City Gas Distribution Project, it has left out auto LPG.

Auto LPG has several advantages over CNG, including 5-6 times less installation cost for refueling stations and less engine performance loss. Globally, auto LPG is the third most commonly used automotive fuel after petrol and diesel. Seven of the 10 large car manufacturers produce LPG-powered cars. Auto LPG occupies very little space in car boots and can be transported in cylinders in trucks to distant outposts.

Auto LPG is already available in 500 Indian cities and it neither needs any major infrastructural overhaul nor any subsidies to encourage consumers. It is important that the government frames policies that are favorable to all alternative fuels to allow consumers a wider choice.

An urgent policy intervention is to change the Type Approval norms of the Ministry of Road Transport for vehicles converting to gaseous fuels. In India companies have to renew the extremely costly Type Approvals for auto LPG and CNG conversions every three years. This has resulted in a rapid dwindling of players in the retro-fitment market. The Type Approval Validity must be made perpetual in line with the European norms. Similarly, the GST rate on LPG conversion kits for vehicles must be reduced from 28 percent to 5 percent as a measure to push up the rate of vehicle conversion to environment-friendly fuels. The GST rate on auto LPG also needs to be brought down from 18 percent.

(Suyash Gupta Is Director General of Indian Auto LPG Coalition; views expressed are personal)

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Bengaluru-headquartered engineering R&D company L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has been certified at Caterpillar’s 2025 Supplier Excellence Recognition (SER) event. This marks the second consecutive recognition for LTTS following its initial certification in 2024.

The recertification highlights LTTS's delivery, quality standards and its relationship with Caterpillar in the Mobility segment.

As a strategic supplier, LTTS provides engineering services that support Caterpillar and its customer base. LTTS has worked on Caterpillar’s sustainability goals and has driven engineering innovation and operational performance.

Alind Saxena, Executive Director and President of Mobility and Tech at L&T Technology Services, said, “This recognition means a great deal to all of us at LTTS. Being SER-certified two years in a row is a testament not just to our team’s dedication, but also to the strength of our relationship with Caterpillar. We deeply appreciate Caterpillar’s support and the trust placed in us. Our pledge is to continue raising the bar, adding value, and delivering engineering excellence in everything we do.”

Caterpillar's recognition is awarded to suppliers who meet criteria in areas including quality assurance, timely delivery, innovation and alignment with the company’s values.

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Aptiv, a global technology firm, has announced its Gen 8 radar technology, designed to meet the demands of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). The radars, powered by Aptiv’s antenna and silicon design, deliver the performance and resolution needed to support Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)–driven ADAS functions.

The Gen 8 radars are intended to allow hands-free driving in complex city environments, providing perception at a lower cost. Both front-facing and corner radar units represent a step forward in how vehicles sense their surroundings, offering reliable performance across real-world conditions.

The same core technology also powers the new Aptiv PULSE Sensor, a solution that combines radar and camera data to improve perception around the vehicle. By integrating ultra short-range capability with a surround-view camera, PULSE is claimed to be able to replace up to four ultrasonic sensors, improving detection accuracy while reducing system complexity and cost for vehicle manufacturers.

Javed Khan, Executive Vice-President and President of Software, Advanced Safety and User Experience, Aptiv, said, “Aptiv pioneered radar technology in production vehicles more than two decades ago, and today, we’re once again setting the pace. Our Gen 8 Radars mark a major step forward in the journey toward intelligent, software-defined vehicles – delivering all-weather reliability, 4D perception and deep environmental awareness that enable global automakers to safely and cost-effectively scale to higher levels of automation.”

Backed by over 25 years of radar technology experience, Aptiv’s Gen 8 radars use proprietary software and hardware, introducing improvements in performance for a broader range of driving solutions across challenging weather and lighting. The radars enable new driving scenarios – such as Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) – in complex environments like city streets and car parks, due to an expanded field of view.

The key features of Aptiv’s Gen 8 radar technology include –

• Forward Radar: Offers long-range detection beyond 300 metres with fine 4D angular resolution, allowing improved classification of static objects. This system delivers a 30 percent performance increase and doubles the vertical field of view compared to its predecessor.
• Dual-Mode Corner Radar: Improves the range performance of the previous generation by increasing the vertical field of view’s (FOV) resolution, providing capability in close-range, low-speed scenarios such as frontal automatic emergency braking (AEB) and automated parking. Compared to the prior generation, horizontal discrimination improved by 25 percent and vertical discrimination is now possible.

The Gen 8 radars aim to deliver detection, precision and adaptability. Aptiv claims it offers scalable solutions, including a large increase in object detection count and superior accuracy for target detection and tracking, even in high dynamic range environments. It also supports AI-powered systems by delivering high-quality sensor data to machine learning models.

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United States-based Edge Energy, a developer of patent-pending energy conversion technology for electric vehicle fast charging, has announced a strategic investment from Germany-based PRETTL Mechatronics & Actuators (PMA), a leading mechatronics solution supplier for the automotive, electronics and energy sectors.

The funding round includes an equity investment and working capital. This partnership will support Edge Energy’s expansion of access to EV charging and utilise PMA’s manufacturing and electronics capabilities.

Edge Energy’s EdgeEV Power Source is claimed to allow fast EV charging without expensive three-phase power upgrades, offering deployment up to six times faster than traditional methods. The technology allows businesses and fleet operators to install DC Fast Chargers in various locations, supporting EV uptake.

PMA’s U.S. subsidiaries provide capabilities in coil winding, encapsulation and automated assembly, serving industries like automotive and energy.

Shaun Shuler, CEO, of Edge Energy, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with PMA, whose electronic and manufacturing expertise aligns perfectly with our vision for accessible EV charging.”

Johannes Prettl, CEO, PMA Group, said, “Edge Energy’s innovative EV charging solutions complement PMA’s commitment to sustainable technologies. We are excited to partner with Edge Energy on their next stage of growth.”

The investment combines Edge Energy’s technology with PMA’s electronics and manufacturing capabilities, aiming for growth for Edge Energy.

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Tata Technologies has announced a partnership with Synopsys, a provider of engineering solutions, to accelerate the shift towards Software-Defined Mobility (SDV). The collaboration aims to accelerate the development, verification and validation of automotive electronics systems, helping Original Equipment Manufacturers address the complexity of SDVs.

The collaboration will combine Tata Technologies’ expertise in vehicle engineering with Synopsys’ virtualisation solutions to enable the deployment of electronics digital twins (eDTs).

The companies have already worked with a leading European luxury OEM in a pilot engagement, delivering a blueprint to transition the manufacturer's existing electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture to a next-generation software-defined design. Pilot programmes with other major OEMs are also underway across North America, Europe and India.

The joint effort will focus on major SDV domains, including ADAS, powertrain, chassis, infotainment and electrification. Key areas of focus include:

• Shift Left Enablement: Developing virtual prototypes and simulation models for early software bring-up.
• Analysis: Using Synopsys tools for performance, power, safety, and reliability analysis for faster ECU development cycles.
• Verification: Providing embedded systems and software verification and validation services aligned with ISO 26262 and ASPICE standards.

Sriram Lakshminarayanan, Chief Technology Officer, Tata Technologies, said, “The digital shift is redefining the future of mobility, and our partnership with Synopsys is a purposeful step towards realising a future led by software-defined innovations. As OEMs move to new ways of working, there is a growing demand for engineering and digital services. Together, we are empowering OEMs to deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable vehicles that enhance the human experience and accelerate the industry’s transition to a software-defined future.”

Tom De Schutter, Senior Vice-President, Product Management & Markets Group at Synopsys, said, "The complexity of SDV systems requires a new level of collaboration across the automotive ecosystem. By bringing together our world-class digital twin, verification, and IP platforms with Tata Technologies’ engineering expertise and global delivery, we are enabling OEMs to accelerate development, validation and delivery of complex software- and AI-defined vehicles. The collaboration is a great example of how the automotive ecosystem is coming together to accelerate innovation while reducing risk and time to market in a dynamic mobility landscape.”

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