Date:15/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/15/stories/2006031505981800.htm

Business

Ford keen on developing clean diesel

Staff Correspondent

Allocates a sizable amount on R&D

CHENNAI: Ford Motor Company has aggressive plans to develop hybrid vehicles in every segment. It is also keen on developing clean diesel. Ford's idea is to keep technology as a base to deliver its value proposition to its customers, said Haren S Gandhi, Ford Technical Fellow, Ford Motor Company Research Laboratory, Dearborn.

Mr. Gandhi told presspersons here on Tuesday that the research laboratory of Ford Motor Company was working on nano technology to develop stronger and lighter structural materials, such as plastic composites. These plastics use nanoparticles as fillers that reduce weight and increase strength. The company allocates significant portion of its turnover on research and development activities. He said the laboratory was working on nanotechnology to develop material applied in storage of hydrogen or development of next generation of catalyst. "At the lab we are also working on high-throughput research where, instead of using the conventional approach to discover material, we apply the 21st century technology which is the robotic way and apply the data mining tools. So when copious amount of data come, out the data mining tools manage them and give us the expected output. With this initiative we can reduce the discovery time considerably,'' he said.Mr. Gandhi said Ford was having discussions with IIT professors in Chennai to understand the latter's areas of strength and identify common areas for working together. Ford was also working with IIT Delhi on pedestrian safety.