Page 60 - Energy Efficiency Policies in China and India - A Research Paper
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Energy efficiency policies in
China and India
7.3 Transportation
A focus on alternative vehicle and transport technologies, along with the expansion of mass
transit infrastructure and personal non-motorised mobility options could be significant in
reducing emissions from the transport sector and moving ahead with enhanced energy
efficiency. Two of the twelve focus areas of the Twelfth FYP of India include a vehicle fuel
efficiency programme and improving the efficiency of freight transport, which would require a
modal shift to a more efficient mode of freight transport.17
The first ever Passenger Car Vehicle (PCV) standards for fuel efficiency were issued18 by BEE,
Ministry of Power. There is a need to improve the fuel efficiency and emissions from the Heavy
Duty Vehicles (HDVs) as the energy consumption and emissions from the transport sector is
heavily dominated by the HDV sector. BEE has proposed a two pronged approach to accelerate
reduction in the average fuel consumption of new cars introduced in the Indian market:
• Medium and long term fuel efficiency standards for new cars which would provide a
regulatory signal to manufacturers to continuously reduce the average fuel consumption
of cars sold by them over the next 10 year period
• Labelling of new cars that are sold in the market with the labels providing consumers
with information on fuel consumption of the car model and the relative fuel consumption
of the model compared to other models in the same weight class.
Following consultations with various ministries, industry and civil society, BEE arrived at a
consensus on fuel efficiency standards for car manufactures to come into being in two phases
- by fiscal year 2016-17 and by 2020-21 (MoP, 2014). The fuel efficiency of cars is expected to
improve 10% and 15% in 2017 and 2022, respectively, compared to 2009-10 as the base year
(Indian Express News Report, 2014).
To achieve better productivity and efficiency in transport during theTwelfth FYP, the rail share
in freight transport is targeted to go up by at least 2%. Consistent efforts are on to increase
the share of rail transport in freight movement and enhance the role of public transport for
passenger traffic movement. Approval for the development of dedicated Eastern and Western
freight corridors will improve overall transport efficiency including faster transit, energy
efficient and environment-friendly transport (PIB, Ministry of Railways, 2015). The government
is also actively trying to leverage the merits of inland waterways for transportation of cargo
and passengers– a far more efficient mode of transport than either rail or road. The Ministry
of Shipping is planning to declare 101 waterways as National Waterways (PIB, Ministry of
Shipping, 2015).
The Government of India launched the National Urban Transport Policy, 2006 with the objective
of encouraging public transport and non-motorized transport by offering central financial
assistance and promoting the use of cleaner technologies among others. Public transport
causes less pollution per passenger-km as compared to private transport options. Energy
efficiency gains of a rail based transport system with respect to motorized private vehicles
17Energy intensity of rail freight is 0.18 MJ/ tonne-km, while the intensity for road freight is 1.6 MJ / tonne-km, i.e., a nine-fold
difference.
18Notification dated 23 April 2015; Available from https://beeindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/ctools/Notification%2023.4.2015.pdf;
accessed on 26 February 2016
Research Paper 45
China and India
7.3 Transportation
A focus on alternative vehicle and transport technologies, along with the expansion of mass
transit infrastructure and personal non-motorised mobility options could be significant in
reducing emissions from the transport sector and moving ahead with enhanced energy
efficiency. Two of the twelve focus areas of the Twelfth FYP of India include a vehicle fuel
efficiency programme and improving the efficiency of freight transport, which would require a
modal shift to a more efficient mode of freight transport.17
The first ever Passenger Car Vehicle (PCV) standards for fuel efficiency were issued18 by BEE,
Ministry of Power. There is a need to improve the fuel efficiency and emissions from the Heavy
Duty Vehicles (HDVs) as the energy consumption and emissions from the transport sector is
heavily dominated by the HDV sector. BEE has proposed a two pronged approach to accelerate
reduction in the average fuel consumption of new cars introduced in the Indian market:
• Medium and long term fuel efficiency standards for new cars which would provide a
regulatory signal to manufacturers to continuously reduce the average fuel consumption
of cars sold by them over the next 10 year period
• Labelling of new cars that are sold in the market with the labels providing consumers
with information on fuel consumption of the car model and the relative fuel consumption
of the model compared to other models in the same weight class.
Following consultations with various ministries, industry and civil society, BEE arrived at a
consensus on fuel efficiency standards for car manufactures to come into being in two phases
- by fiscal year 2016-17 and by 2020-21 (MoP, 2014). The fuel efficiency of cars is expected to
improve 10% and 15% in 2017 and 2022, respectively, compared to 2009-10 as the base year
(Indian Express News Report, 2014).
To achieve better productivity and efficiency in transport during theTwelfth FYP, the rail share
in freight transport is targeted to go up by at least 2%. Consistent efforts are on to increase
the share of rail transport in freight movement and enhance the role of public transport for
passenger traffic movement. Approval for the development of dedicated Eastern and Western
freight corridors will improve overall transport efficiency including faster transit, energy
efficient and environment-friendly transport (PIB, Ministry of Railways, 2015). The government
is also actively trying to leverage the merits of inland waterways for transportation of cargo
and passengers– a far more efficient mode of transport than either rail or road. The Ministry
of Shipping is planning to declare 101 waterways as National Waterways (PIB, Ministry of
Shipping, 2015).
The Government of India launched the National Urban Transport Policy, 2006 with the objective
of encouraging public transport and non-motorized transport by offering central financial
assistance and promoting the use of cleaner technologies among others. Public transport
causes less pollution per passenger-km as compared to private transport options. Energy
efficiency gains of a rail based transport system with respect to motorized private vehicles
17Energy intensity of rail freight is 0.18 MJ/ tonne-km, while the intensity for road freight is 1.6 MJ / tonne-km, i.e., a nine-fold
difference.
18Notification dated 23 April 2015; Available from https://beeindia.gov.in/sites/default/files/ctools/Notification%2023.4.2015.pdf;
accessed on 26 February 2016
Research Paper 45
