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India currently has over 33 crore petrol and diesel-powered vehicles, a figure that significantly contributes to urban air pollution.
Auto LPG, which is already the third most used automobile fuel globally, is seen as a cleaner alternative with multiple advantages.
As World Environment Day approaches, the Indian Auto LPG Coalition (IAC) has once again raised the alarm about India’s worsening air pollution crisis.
With nearly 40 percent of the country’s pollution caused by the transport sector, according to Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, the IAC is calling on the government to accelerate clean fuel policies, especially promoting Auto LPG as a practical and immediate solution.
Over 33 Crore Petrol and Diesel Vehicles on Indian Roads
India has over 33 crore vehicles running on petrol and diesel. These vehicles remain a major contributor to air pollution, especially in densely populated cities. The IAC is promoting Auto LPG as a cleaner and more affordable alternative. Globally, it is the third most widely used automotive fuel, currently powering 27 million vehicles, including 2.4 million in India.
Auto LPG: A ‘Net Zero Hero’
Auto LPG offers several environmental and economic benefits:
- Cuts harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter
- Improves fuel economy
- Reduces operating costs
- Requires minimal infrastructure for retrofitting existing vehicles
According to the IAC, this fuel can play a supporting role alongside electric vehicles, providing a quick fix to urban air pollution.
Mr Suyash Gupta, Director General of IAC, emphasised:”By incentivizing and streamlining retrofitment to Auto LPG, we can convert millions of vehicles into clean, low-emission alternatives almost overnight. Auto LPG is not only cost-effective for consumers but also delivers immediate and significant reductions in harmful emissions, making our cities healthier and our air cleaner.”
Delhi-NCR May Phase Out Petrol and Diesel Cars
Reports suggest the Central Government is considering a phase-out of pure petrol and diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR. However, replacing all these cars would be financially and logistically challenging. Instead, the IAC recommends retrofitting vehicles with Auto LPG kits, a faster and more feasible alternative.
Countries like Ukraine, Poland, South Korea, and Russia have successfully integrated Autogas into their public transport systems. Supportive government policies in these nations have led to significant reductions in emissions, proving the effectiveness of such a transition.
What the IAC Wants from the Government
To speed up the transition, the IAC has urged the government to:
- Include Auto LPG in national clean fuel policies
- Encourage automakers (OEMs) to launch Auto LPG models
- Reduce GST on autogas conversion kits from 28 percent to 5 percent.
As India gets ready to mark World Environment Day, IAC is urging policymakers to realise the potential of Auto LPG in building a cleaner, greener future. With smart policies and immediate action, millions of polluting vehicles can be transformed into eco-friendly alternatives—without waiting years for a complete electric shift.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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