Bharat Forge Ltd, a supplier of forged and machined parts, based in Pune, India, has joined with KPIT Cummins Infosystems Ltd., an engineering and IT consulting firm for automotive and manufacturing companies, based in Pune, India, to make and sell a new hybrid technology for automobiles.

The new REVOLO technology will enable both existing and new vehicles to increase fuel efficiency more than 40 percent while boosting engine performance and decreasing green house gas (GHG) emissions by slightly more than 30 percent. Under city driving conditions, the improvement in fuel efficiency could be over 60 percent while GHG emissions would be reduced by over 30 percent.

KPIT Cummins developed the technology and will license it to the joint venture. Bharat Forge will make the product. The system will be offered to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and fleet and individual vehicle owners through a network of authorized dealerships.

"We are delighted to join hands with KPIT Cummins in this path-breaking initiative," Bharat Forge Chairman Baba Kalyani said in a statement. "We believe this indigenous solution would offer vehicle owners the best of both worlds--the ability to go green while achieving greater performance."

"It will also benefit the Indian automotive aftermarket," added Cummins CEO Ravi Pandit. "Service stations will now be able to offer customers an opportunity to convert conventional vehicles into eco-friendly hybrids. Finally, it will give vehicle owners the option of upgrading their vehicles to a higher level of fuel efficiency and performance, without the expense of having to buy a new [car]."

The two companies say that the parallel hybrid system will enable the motor and engine to work simultaneously. Unlike an electric vehicle, the vehicle will operate as a conventional fuel vehicle even if the batteries are completely drained. As a plug-in, the vehicle can be charged through a standard external electricity source such as a domestic power outlet.

According to the 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) produced by a team of environmental experts at Yale University and Columbia University, India ranks 123rd in pollution control. The country is promoting less-polluting vehicles and offering subsidies to Indian companies to develop technologies that help reduce carbon emissions.

Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car Co. is the only Indian company that makes electric cars, Japanese auto giant Honda Motor Co. launched India's first Hybrid car, the Civic Hybrid, in June 2008. However, hybrids and electric vehicles are not popular in India because they are so expensive.

On Friday the shares of Bombay Stock Exchange-listed Bharat Forge closed up 0.07 percent at 269 rupees. Shares of KPIT Cummins Infosystems closed down 0.31 percent at 110.95 rupees.

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