CBG-Powered WagonR To Be Showcased At Tokyo Motor Show; What Is CBG? All About Compressed Biomethane Gas-Powered WagonR

Suzuki will be displaying a Compressed Biomethane Gas powered WagonR at the Tokyo Motor Show that is scheduled to take place from October 26 to November 5. The  Compressed Biomethane Gas powered WagonR was also showcased at the G7 summit which was held in Hiroshima in May. The most interesting fact is, as visible in the images this WagonR is the made in India model and not the Japanese model. The Indian government aims to promote the usage of Compressed Biomethane Gas (CBG) to switch to more cleaner and sustainable fuels. 

Maruti Suzuki CBG WagonR

RC Bhargava, Chairman of Maruti Suzuki also suggested that rather than depending on EVs entirely, it is better to incorporate hybrid technologies, CBG and CNG. In December 2022, Maruti Suzuki also revealed a flex-fuel Wagon R concept that is capable of running on ethanol-petrol blend between 20 percent (E20) and 85 percent (E85).

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Maruti Suzuki has been working on the CBG WagonR since 2022 and the made-in-India WagonR that will be displayed in Tokyo was also designed and manufactured at Maruti Suzuki’s research and development centre in India. Maruti Suzuki will also reveal details about its other CBG initiatives in India. 

Compressed Biomethane Gas (CBG)

CNG usage has already been incorporated in the automobile industry since 2001 but CBG can also be used as a fuel alternative. Unlike CNG, CBG is derived by decomposing organic waste like agricultural remains, cow dung, sewage and municipal waste. After the decomposition process of this organic matter, the biogas undergoes a refinement process to reduce carbon dioxide content and increasing methane levels and aligning it more closely with the composition of CNG. 

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As CBG is derived from organic sources, the by-products of decomposition can be repurposed for agricultural use. In 2020, the former Minister of Oil, Dharmendra Pradhan, announced a $24 billion investment plan (approximately Rs 200 crore) aimed at producing 1.5 crore tonnes of compressed biogas from 5,000 plants by 2023. This initiative not only contributes to cost savings but also reduces India's reliance on imported CNG to meet domestic demand.