Ashok Leyland and researchers at the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD), an arm of the IIT Madras, have tied up for the development and commercialisation of ‘swirl mesh lean direct injection (LDI) system’ to develop hybrid electrical vehicles using turbine technology.

NCCRD is working on an indigenously-designed micro gas turbine, whose core is a patented combustion technology termed ‘Swirl Mesh Lean Direct Injection (LDI) system.’ The main powertrain will be the electric motor, but the micro gas turbine will generate the onboard power, developed jointly by Aerostrovilos Energy, an IITM-incubated start-upand NCCRD. This micro gas turbine is going to replace the large battery.

Ashok Leyland signed a letter of support after the technology was demonstrated on a lab scale. As part of the tie-up, Ashok Leyland handed over to NCCRD a nine-meter passenger electric bus on Monday.

Founded in 1948, Ashok Leyland is an multinational automobile manufacturer. Headquartered in Chennai, the company is owned by the Hinduja Group, an Indian transnational conglomerate founded by Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja.