The Centre for Science and Environment is critical of government dragging its feet in establishing fuel saving standards for cars.
The approved Corporate Average Fuel Consumption standards have laid down a target of 18.15 km/litre (or 129.8 gm of CO2/km) in 2015 and 20.79 km/litre (or 113 gm of CO2/km) in 2020, after adjusting for increase in the average weight of the car fleet.
But even these weak standards are being delayed for implementation in 2022 leaving India the only vehicle producing nation (apart from Russia) which has not set fuel economy targets.
Sunita Narain, director general, CSE, pointed out , “Even as the country faces a serious challenge of importing 94 per cent of its crude oil by 2030, there is no serious effort to prepare a fuel saving roadmap for all modes of transport. Our oil import bill is already close to seven per cent of the GDP.”
Ms Narain further pointed out that “The ministry of environment’s inventory shows that the transportation sector is the fourth largest emitter of heat trapping greenhouse gases in India while it remains the key emitter of toxics. The transport sector is responsible for close to half of all CO2 emissions.”
The International Energy Agency has warned that future energy demand in India’s transport sector will be driven largely by cars with the total fuel demand in 2030 being more than the total road transport sector consumption in 2007.
Fuel economy standards for other vehicle segments is also getting delayed with bus transport corporation reporting decline in fuel economy of their fleets. A recent study by CAI Asia shows that by reducing idling by ten minutes, the Bangalore Transport Corporation can save 100 litres per bus or `3 crore annually. Improved maintenance can help ensure a saving of `23 crore annually it was pointed out.
US international vehicle expert Michael Walsh pointed out black carbon was the second highest contributor to climate change after CO2. “India is presently emitting eight per cent of black carbon emission from the road sector.”
Studies also show that diesel black carbon emissions are heat absorbing, therefore reducing black carbon from diesel vehicles gives both climate and public health benefits, Walsh added.
They were speaking at a workshop on “Transport and Climate.”