What Are The Challenges To Implementing A Diesel Ban For Commercial Vehicles?

The Energy Transition Advisory Committee formed by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has recommended banning diesel-powered 4-wheeler vehicles in India by 2027 and switching to electric and gas-fuelled vehicles in polluted cities and towns.

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The committee has also suggested phasing out motorcycles, scooters, and three-wheelers with internal combustion engines by 2035.

Diesel consumption in India

Diesel currently makes up 40% of India's petroleum products consumption, with 80% of it used in the transportation sector. However, petrol and diesel demand in India is predicted to peak in 2040 and decrease afterwards due to the electrification of vehicles.

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Diesel engines are preferred due to their higher fuel economy resulting from the greater energy content per litre of diesel and the inherent efficiency of the engine.

They also offer more torque and are less likely to stall, making them the fuel of choice for heavy vehicles. Diesel engines do not require high-voltage spark ignition, resulting in lower fuel consumption per kilometre.

Adverse impact on environment

Diesel-powered vehicles have several impacts on the environment, including air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution, and potential environmental damage.

Air pollution is a significant concern with diesel engines, as they emit higher levels of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides compared to gasoline engines. These emissions can contribute to respiratory issues and have negative health impacts on humans and wildlife.

In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, diesel engines are generally more fuel-efficient than gasoline engines, but they emit higher levels of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, so the higher emissions from diesel engines can have negative long-term environmental impacts.

Diesel engines are typically louder than gasoline engines, which can contribute to noise pollution. This can be especially problematic in urban areas, where noise pollution can negatively impact the quality of life and have health impacts.

Further, diesel spills can cause significant environmental damage, especially if they occur near water sources or sensitive ecosystems. Diesel fuel is toxic and can harm plants and wildlife, and it can contaminate soil and water sources if not properly contained and cleaned up.

What does the committee recommend?

These recommendations aim to reduce India's greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.

According to The Hindu report, the committee's recommendations aim to move India towards renewable energy to achieve its net-zero goal for 2070. To achieve this, the report recommends that India produce 40% of its electricity from renewables.

The report calls for a shift towards electric buses, with no city buses to be added that are not electric by 2030, and diesel buses for city transport to be stopped from 2024 onwards.

Additionally, the report suggests partially shifting to electric and partially to ethanol-blended petrol with almost 50% share in each category.

It further recommends the targeted extension of incentives under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles scheme to boost the use of electric vehicles in India.

The panel recommends allowing only new registrations of electric-powered city delivery vehicles from 2024, using gas-powered trucks and railways for cargo transportation. The report suggests that the railway network in India should be fully electric in the next two to three years. In the long term, the panel recommends using electricity to power long-distance buses in India, with gas as a transition fuel for 10-15 years.

As India aims to increase the share of gas in its energy mix from the current 6.2% to 15% by 2030. To achieve this, the panel recommends building underground gas storage facilities equivalent to two months' demand.

The report suggests using depleted oil and gas fields, salt caverns, and aquifers for gas storage, with the participation of foreign gas-producing companies.

Challenges to implementing diesel ban for commercial vehicles

Implementing a diesel ban for commercial vehicles is challenging because of uncertainty around the practicality of the ban for medium and heavy commercial vehicles, as well as concerns about potential disruptions to the transport of goods and public transportation services.

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Diesel dominates the transport sector, with high dependence on it for long-haul transportation and city bus services. Diesel sales account for around 87% of the transport sector, with trucks and buses contributing to approximately 68% of diesel fuel sales. However, transitioning diesel trucks to compressed natural gas (CNG) poses limitations as CNG is primarily suited for shorter distances and has a lower tonnage carrying capacity.

Automakers argue that diesel vehicles comply with existing emission norms, and significant investments have been made to transition diesel fleets to BS-VI emission norms. A diesel ban may imply that all the time, money, and efforts were in vain.