Aris BioEnergy Biodiesel Odyssey 2022 completes 8822km using 40% waste cooking oil bio diesel
Hyderabad: Two passionate environmentalists and roadsters, Avinash Narayanaswamy, a Chemical Engineer with two Masters from University of Twente- the Netherlands and Aakankash N.M, 23, a Bachelor in Product Design, undertook a unique odyssey of covering 8822 km in a normal engine TATA Indica car, using 40% biodiesel- diesel mix. Sunil Mysore, an environmental entrepreneur joined the team for the Nepal leg of the Odyssey. The biodiesel was produced at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. The Biodiesel Odyssey was sponsored by Aris Bioenergy, Commtel, Ellen Fund- USA among others.
The main aim of this journey-cum-study was to prove the usability of biodiesel as a transportation fuel, in which a team of three people travelled across 13 states, 4 union territories, and crossed the border into Nepal in a Tata Indica car being run on B40 fuel (40% biodiesel and 60% petroleum diesel blend). The study was conducted to demonstrate that biodiesel can be used in regular engines without any technical difficulties.
Avinash Narayanaswamy, member of the Biodiesel Odyssey team said, “India has one of the fastest growing economies in Asia and is the fourth largest economy globally. It is currently the third biggest oil importer and the proof of a viable biodiesel working in normal cars can have a tremendous impact on the environment and the economy.”
Shriprakash R. Pandey, CMD, Commtel, congratulated the Biodiesel Odyssey team and said, “As a business engaged in innovation and technology, Commtel has always embraced fresh concepts that advance sustainability. The Biodiesel Odyssey was in line with Commtel’s mission and guiding principles and its ESG policies.”
Waste cooking oil was used to make biodiesel and to compare the use of biodiesel and petroleum diesel, emission research was also conducted. It was discovered to emit 30.56% less carbon, as well as 30.56% less particulate matter, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and sulphur dioxide (SO2).
About Biodiesel Odyssey:
The Aris Bioenergy Biodiesel Odyssey commenced on 24th August 2022 from Bengaluru with the sole objective of reaching out to as many people from pre- arranged colleges, universities, NGOs and companies across India, Nepal and Bhutan about the impending global climate crisis and the role eco friendly fuels such as biodiesel play in mitigating the crisis. An Indian automobile – Tata Indica powered by self made eco-friendly Indian fuel ( B40- 40% biodiesel and 60% petroleum diesel blend) emphasizing ‘Aatmanirbharta’ was the theme of the Odyssey. By the time the Odyssey finished on the 25th of September in Bengaluru, 8822 km over a span of 32 days was realised. Though the team could not cover Bhutan owing to the threat of landslides, roughly 2000 people comprising of college students, teachers, employees of companies, NGO officials and several others participated in the team’s environmental centric presentations across the route, deliberated on real time environmental solutions with possible implementations at the grassroot level there by making the Odyssey a success. All in all, going forward, a collective team effort is the need of the hour to ensure that the climate crisis can be controlled and mitigated if life has to sustain on this only planet we call home.
