Niti Aayog seeks diesel vehicle phase-out, focus on cleaner tech

NEW DELHI: Niti Aayog has proposed a roadmap for a net zero pathway for the transport sector which includes phasing out diesel vehicles and focusing on cleaner technologies, as well as tightening Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms.

“The transition strategy should begin with the phased elimination of polluting diesel vehicles and the adoption of lower-emission technologies such as CNG, hybrids, and electric vehicles,” said the report, while laying down a long-term pathway to achieve net zero transport emissions by 2070.

The report, released Tuesday, said the transition would begin with gradual removal of diesel vehicles and a shift towards cleaner technologies such as CNG, hybrids and electric vehicles. In the next phase, the focus will be on greater use of biofuels through flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs), higher Bio-CNG blending and hybrid FFV models, while electric vehicle adoption continues to rise. The final phase is a full shift to zero-emission vehicles.

Niti Aayog said road transport depended heavily on fossil fuels, with petrol and diesel accounting for more than 80% of energy consumption. The think tank warned that India’s ability to cut emissions will also depend on how effectively it enforced CAFE norms.



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