[airbender]

Should we have mandatory fuel efficiency standards in india?

For me the answer is yes. I would even go forward and say we should have additional tax on least efficient vehicles in india.

Why?
1. Pollution levels in india are among the wrost.
2. Fuel is finite resource.
3. Lion's share of our imports are fuel related.

I am sure I can come with more but I will leave it there.

Why did I open this thread. Read Mr. Ramesh's statement. His original message of having mandatory fuel efficiency standards is lost and everyone starts debating about BWM's and Audi's part. So unfortunate.

Link for that thread:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...am-ramesh.html

[airbender]

Anyone voting please post proper reasoning for voting for that option.

[AbhiJ]

I voted No.

Why?

Cars are more than just a medium to get to A to B.

Cars are a passion for a lot of people, including me.

A mandatory F. E. standard will mean one will never be able to buy any Ferrari/Lamborgini in India. Although I doubt I ll be able of afford those cars in this lifetime, I would sure like to have the option of buying them ...

Its a free country. Banning non F.E. cars is wrong. However, one can make a minimum F.E. Standard and increase taxes to 2x for all cars not meeting the same.

[airbender]

Originally Posted by AbhiJ

However, one can make a minimum F.E. Standard and increase taxes to 2x for all cars not meeting the same.

That would be a good start. BTW, a good car doesnot mean lousy economy.

[AbhiJ]

Originally Posted by airbender

That would be a good start. BTW, a good car doesnot mean lousy economy.

Agreed.

But I doubt most V8's / V12's will pass the F.E. bar...

[airbender]

Originally Posted by AbhiJ

Agreed.

But I doubt most V8's / V12's will pass the F.E. bar...

US passed the fuel efficiency standards bill and you already see the impact in the form of newer vehicles. Auto makers did not phase them out but cameup with better engines. Old V'8 are now better V6's.

[Dr.AD]

I voted No. Although I do appreciate the need to save fuel and environment, I am against most 'mandatory' things. As someone said, it is a free country. We can't go about solving our problems by making everything mandatory.

Originally Posted by airbender

Why?
1. Pollution levels in india are among the wrost.
2. Fuel is finite resource.
3. Lion's share of our imports are fuel related.

Regarding point 1, less fuel efficiency does not necessarily mean more pollution. Hence to take care of pollution, there must be direct norms for pollution (which we already have), and there is no need to link that to fuel efficiency.

Regarding point 2, yes it is true. But then why a special case for fuel? We have many other resources which are finite, and there are no mandatory standards on consumption levels in all cases.

I think a better way out is to keep higher taxes on vehicles with lower fuel efficiency. For example, the current tax cuts for smaller than 1.2L petrol and 1.5L diesel engines can be given to vehicles with higher than a certain level of fuel efficiency (what is the logic behind linking taxes to engine size anyway?)

In summary, I appreciate the spirit and it is fine to campaign (and even have tax and other incentives) in favour of fuel efficient vehicles, but let us keep out the "mandatory" word.