Diesel Ban :Everything you want to know about ADV News, Photos & Exclusive stories.

Diesel-powered cars and SUVs used to sell very well in India. To cash in on the popularity of diesel vehicle in India, Maruti Suzuki even introduced a diesel version of its popular Celerio. However, declining demand and stricter pollution regulations have since prompted many automakers to abandon diesel-powered versions of their best-selling cars. The newest development is a recommendation by a panel headed&nbsp;by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas&nbsp;to phase out diesel-powered four-wheeler&nbsp;by 2027 in cities with populations more than 1 million, in favour of electric and gas-powered alternatives. Former petroleum secretary Tarun Kapoor's Energy Transition Advisory Committee has also suggested that by 2030, public transport in cities should consist of a combination of Metro trains and electric buses.

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<h2>Panel recommendations</h2>

The group has proposed many measures to reduce carbon emissions, including the use of electric vehicles for city deliveries, the use of Metro and gas-powered trucks for transportation of freight, and a full ban on diesel cars and buses. According to the group, all intercity buses and rail lines should be electrified within the next two to three years.

The construction of underground gas storage facilities enough to meet demand for two months has also been proposed. The average annual rate of growth for this demand is predicted to be 9.78 percent from now until 2050. India has made significant progress towards this target. The market share of electric vehicles is growing rapidly in India.&nbsp;

As a result of new infrastructure, various government incentives, and the introduction of new EV models, this trend is expected to continue at the same or a faster rate throughout the decade.

<h2>Automakers that Still Make Diesel Cars</h2>

The biggest producer of passenger cars in the nation, Maruti Suzuki, discontinued producing diesel cars and has given no indication that it intends to resume production of these vehicles. However, the diesel powered cars are&nbsp;still available in the models offered by Hyundai and Kia, as well as Toyota Motor's Innova Crysta lineup. Mahindra and Tata Motors, both Indian automakers, also produce diesel vehicles. Most automakers, however, have taken significant steps back from their diesel portfolios since 2020.

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<h2>Dieselgate Scandal</h2>

One of the primary problems of diesel engines compared to petrol engines is that they emit high amount of nitrogen oxides&nbsp;(NOx) due to their greater compression ratio. However, the Volkswagen emissions scandal has been the industry's worst setback, increasing the unfavourable view of diesel in several countries, including India.

To refresh your memory, the "Dieselgate" scandal, also known as "Emissionsgate," concerned Volkswagen Group (VW) diesel cars that were found to have been equipped with unlawful software that enabled them to illegally release more dangerous pollutants than were permitted by the&nbsp;law 
&nbsp;

Diesel Cars to Get Banned in 4 Years? Here's What the Govt Panel Proposed

By 2027, it is possible that large cities in India might enforce a ban on diesel-powered four-wheel vehicles. Many countries, like India, have set a goal of zero emissions and plan to drastically cut carbon emissions by the year 2070.

According to a release from the CAQM, the measures were implemented&nbsp;“in the wake of unfavourable meteorological conditions anticipated to deteriorate the air quality of the NCR in the coming days”.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has exercised measures under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect, banning the use of diesel four-wheelers that are not<a href="https://www.autox.com/bs6-cars-in-india/"> BS-VI</a> compliant as well as the entry of trucks into Delhi, as a result of Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) falling on Thursday to 450, which brings it just under the 'severe plus' category.

In Delhi, there are 3 lakh light motor vehicles that do not comply with BS-VI.&nbsp;The government established the BS, or Bharat Stage, emission regulations, as guidelines to control the emissions of air pollutants from equipment with internal combustion engines, such as cars. Prior to 2020, India followed the European (Euro) emission standards with a five-year lag, and in 2020, it&nbsp;skipped the transition to BS-V and went directly to BS-VI.

The order&nbsp;from the&nbsp;Commission&nbsp;for&nbsp;Air&nbsp;Quality&nbsp;Management&nbsp;(CAQM) states that the ban on diesel four-wheelers will be enforced in Delhi-NCR areas that border the city, and&nbsp;exempts BS-VI vehicles as well as those used for essential and emergency services. The state government may also&nbsp;soon decide&nbsp;whether to&nbsp;prohibit non-emergency&nbsp;commercial&nbsp;activity, close schools, and regulate automobile&nbsp;traffic&nbsp;on&nbsp;an&nbsp;odd-even&nbsp;basis.&nbsp;

According to a release from the CAQM, the measures were implemented&nbsp;“in the wake of unfavourable meteorological conditions anticipated to deteriorate the air quality of the NCR in the coming days” and forecasts suggest that Delhi's air quality is likely to remain in the "severe" or "severe plus" category between November 3 and 5.

This year, restrictions on polluting activities are being put in place three days in advance based on forecasts. In the past, the authorities would only put the measures into place once the PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations reached a certain threshold.

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Non-BS6 diesel vehicles banned in Delhi as AQI nears 'severe plus'

A central panel ordered authorities to impose a ban on the operation of four-wheeled diesel light motor vehicles (LMVs) in Delhi and the surrounding NCR districts on Thursday as a result of Delhi's air quality indicator (AQI) degrading to barely a notch below the "severe plus" stage.

In its latest petition, the Centre has requested that diesel-powered defence vehicles, school buses, tractors &amp; private vehicles should be taken out of the NGT's blanket ban on old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR.

The central government has recently filed a petition with the Supreme Court of India, which demands that certain specific categories of vehicles should be exempted from the National Green Tribunal's (NGT's) ban on old diesel vehicles, which is currently in effect in Delhi-NCR. To give you a brief overview of the situation, in 2016, the NGT had ordered all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) of Delhi to de-register all diesel vehicles plying in the city that were aged over 10 years. The decision was taken keeping into consideration Delhi's deteriorating air quality. In January 2017, the central government had challenged the NGT's order in the Supreme Court, but&nbsp;the NGT refused to budge. Thus, the current plea filed by the central government once again challenges the NGT's 2016 order.

This time though, the central government has requested that only diesel-powered defence vehicles, school buses, tractors &amp; private vehicles should be exempted from the ban, stating that the inability of the owners of such vehicles to replace them is hurting their economic condition and directly taking a toll on their livelihoods. This is certainly different reasoning as compared to that given by the central government in its January 2017 challenge petition. At the time, the central government had called the move 'unjust' as all vehicle owners pay a one-time vehicle registration fee for 15 years, at the time of purchase. And therefore, they would suffer a loss if their vehicle is taken away and impounded after 10 years.

Further, the central government also challenged the NGT order on the basis that the Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate was already in place to determine if a vehicle was fit/unfit for use. Therefore, an arbitrary order to take all 10-year diesel vehicles off the roads of Delhi-NCR was not needed. However, this reasoning failed to move the NGT. We are yet to see how the Supreme Court reacts to the current petition.

Read more:

<a href="https://www.autox.com/news/industry-news/ngt-refuses-to-lift-ban-on-older-diesel-vehicles-in-delhincr/">NGT refuses to lift ban on older diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR</a>

<a href="https://www.autox.com/news/industry-news/bsvi-fuel-now-introduced-in-delhi-106297/">BSVI fuel now introduced in Delhi</a>

Supreme Court admits central government's plea against ban on diesel vehicles

The central government has recently filed a petition with the Supreme Court of India, which demands that certain specific categories of vehicles should be exempted from the National Green Tribunal's (NGT's) ban on old diesel vehicles, which is currently in effect in Delhi-NCR.

Ban on registration of 2,000cc or above engine capacity diesel vehicles lifted by the Supreme Court. Car manufacturers will have to pay 1 per cent 'green cess' to register vehicles though.
After a long hiatus, the Supreme Court has finally lifted the ban on the registration of diesel vehicles above 2,000cc engine capacity in Delhi-NCR. There’s no doubt that this piece of news will allow the affected car manufacturers to heave a sigh of relief, but there's a catch. As per the apex court, to register diesel cars with 2.0-litre or above engine capacity in Delhi-NCR, a green cess of 1 per cent of the ex-showroom price of the vehicle will have to be deposited. Reportedly, the Supreme Court is also thinking to levy green cess on small capacity diesel vehicles.
The Supreme Court’s decision to lift the diesel ban came right after Mercedes-Benz filed a plea against the order. In its proposal, the German luxury car manufacturer reportedly offered to pay 1 per cent environment cess in order to register diesel cars with 2,000cc or more engine capacity.
Before today’s hearing, though, the court itself had proposed the manufacturers/dealers/buyers to pay a one-time environment fees to register large capacity diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR. Having said that, it’s understood that the court took other important factors into consideration as well. Thus far, there has not been any concrete proof that large capacity and modern diesel-fueled vehicles are ‘dirty’ or are more polluting than, say, old and badly maintained vehicles plying on the capital’s roads.
Commenting on the development, Dr Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, Mahindra &amp; Mahindra, said, “We are very relieved with the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court today. Hope this decision will put all controversy surrounding diesel fuel behind us and we will be able to focus on the more important task of making our vehicles compliant with BS 6 norms by April 2020”.
Mahindra, however, was not the only manufacturer which suffered from the diesel ban that came into effect from January 2016. Sales of Mercedes-Benz, Tata, Toyota, etc., were also hit badly by the diesel ban.
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Supreme Court lifts diesel ban in Delhi-NCR

Ban on registration of 2,000cc or above engine capacity diesel vehicles lifted by the Supreme Court. Car manufacturers will have to pay 1 per cent

Manufacturers will have to pay 1 per cent green cess in order to sell diesel vehicles above 2,000cc of engine capacity in Delhi-NCR, proposed the Supreme Court.
The seven-month ban on sale of big diesel vehicles in Delhi/NCR may soon be lifted. The Supreme Court has proposed the manufacturers to pay 1 per cent of the ex-showroom price of the vehicle as green cess in order to sell diesel vehicles powered by engines with 2,000cc or above capacity.
While the Supreme Court is open to lifting ban on high-end diesel vehicles, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises has argued against the proposal, stating that levying tax on diesel vehicles will be inappropriate since there is no ‘empirical study’ to prove that diesel is a dirty fuel. The ministry has also asked to conduct a "multi-pronged study" on the effects on environment by diesel vehicles, and then impose green cess based on the findings from the report.  Meantime, ban on registration of diesel vehicles should be lifted says the ministry since this has not only been affecting the economy and FDI, but is also proving out to be major hurdle in bringing foreign investments into the country.
The Supreme Court reiterated to the above plea, saying that it will modify or hold back the order if the ministry produces a credible study that proves that diesel is not an "undesirable fuel".
Since December 2015, sales of diesel cars with engine capacity more than 2,000cc have been banned in Delhi-NCR. Recently, the ban was also imposed in Kerala. Manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Mahindra etc., were hit the hardest by this order since the ruling prevents them from selling their bread-and-butter products in these regions. The recent developments are sure to bring a sigh of relief to the affected manufacturers since either ways – whether the green cess is levied or not - the Supreme Court is willing to lift the ban.
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Diesel ban may be lifted indicates Supreme Court

Manufacturers will have to pay 1 per cent green cess in order to sell diesel vehicles above 2,000cc of engine capacity in Delhi-NCR, proposed the

Diesel Ban

Diesel Cars to Get Banned in 4 Years? Here's What the Govt Panel Proposed

Non-BS6 diesel vehicles banned in Delhi as AQI nears 'severe plus'

Supreme Court admits central government's plea against ban on diesel vehicles

Supreme Court lifts diesel ban in Delhi-NCR

Diesel ban may be lifted indicates Supreme Court

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