An advisory group from the Indian Ministry of Petroleum has proposed that India should ban the use of diesel-powered four-wheeler vehicles by 2027. As a measure to reduce emissions, the recommendation is to shift to electric and gas-powered automobiles in urban centres with populations higher than one million and also in polluting towns.According to the panels recommendation, which is available on the oil ministrys website, no diesel buses should be introduced for city transportation beginning in 2024, and all new city buses should be electric by 2030.The implementation of the recommendations from the Energy Transition Advisory Committee, led by former oil secretary Tarun Kapoor, is uncertain as it is unclear if the petroleum ministry will pursue cabinet support for it. The report suggests extending the incentives for electric and hybrid vehicles under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles scheme (FAME) beyond March 31 to increase the usage of electric vehicles in India.Around 40% of Indias refined fuel consumption comes from diesel, with 80% of that being used in the transportation sector. The panel recommends that only newly registered electric-powered city delivery vehicles be allowed from 2024 onwards, with railways and gas-powered trucks being used for cargo movement. India aims to increase the proportion of gas in its energy mix from 6.2% to 15% by 2030.The panel also suggests building underground gas storage equivalent to two months demand, using depleted oil and gas fields, salt caverns, and aquifers with the participation of foreign gas-producing companies to accommodate the expected rise in demand. It recommends using gas as a transition fuel for long-distance buses for 10-15 years and ultimately moving to electricity. The railway network is anticipated to be fully electrified within the next two to three years.
