A report commissioned by the Oil Ministry suggests that cities in India with a population of over 10 lakh people should prohibit the use of diesel-powered four-wheelers by 2027 and switch to electric and gas-powered cars instead.
The cities included in this recommendation are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and a few others. Additionally, former oil secretary Tarun Kapoor chaired a group that proposes phasing out internal combustion-powered motorcycles, scooters, and three-wheelers by 2035. The commission submitted its findings to the government in February of this year, recommending the elimination of diesel city buses in metropolitan areas for the next decade. However, the adoption of the report by the government is still pending.
The paper suggests that EVs are the way to go in getting rid of internal combustion engine two/three-wheeler vehicles by 2035. The recommendation is to switch to electric and partially to ethanol-blended petrol for four-wheelers, including passenger cars and taxis, with a 50% share in each category. Additionally, the research urges the immediate phase-out of diesel-powered four-wheelers. The call is for a ban on diesel-powered four-wheelers in all million-plus cities and towns with high pollution levels within five years or by 2027.
The study recommends the use of purely electric—powered city delivery vehicles for new registrations starting from 2024, alongside greater use of freight transportation via rails and gas-powered trucks. These policies can help India achieve zero emissions by 2070. Being net-zero or carbon-neutral implies not emitting any additional greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
