Ban on Diesel Vehicles: The panel headed by Tarun Kapoor suggested that diesel buses should also be banned from 2024. Instead of these, the government should promote electric and gas-powered vehicles.
Preparations are underway to ban diesel vehicles in India. To promote clean energy, the Government of India constituted the Energy Transition Advisory Committee under the Ministry of Oil. On Monday, this committee suggested that diesel-powered four-wheelers should be banned in the country by 2027. According to the committee, diesel vehicles should be banned in cities with a population of more than 10 lakhs. Instead of these, electric and gas-powered vehicles should be promoted.
Oil Ministry panel head Tarun Kapoor further said that diesel buses should also be banned from 2024. According to the news agency Reuters, quoting the report of the ministry’s website, by 2030 there should be only electric city bus. Apart from this, diesel buses should not be included for city transport from 2024.
Registration of only electric buses
To promote electric mobility, the panel has recommended registration of only electric buses from 2024. The panel further said that there should be maximum use of railways and gas-powered trucks for freight transportation. At the same time, it has been said to make the railway network completely electric in the next two to three years.
The government should also consider extending the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Scheme (FAME) subsidy beyond March.
Zero carbon emission by 2070
The panel suggested that electric technology should be used for long distance buses as well. At the same time, gas should be used as a replacement for the next 10 to 15 years.
India is one of the largest greenhouse gas emitting countries in the world. To achieve the target of zero carbon emission by 2070, it is necessary that the country produces 40 percent of the total electricity from renewable resources.
Promotion of underground gas storage
80 percent of diesel consumption in the country comes from the transport sector. The report suggested that India should also focus on underground gas storage, so that two months of demand can be met.
