Hybrids and electric cars are making big news in India as fuel prices and loan interest rates go sky high. People are now looking for fuel efficient cars that are less dependent on fossil fuels. Sensing the pulse of buyers, the government has rolled out sops for hybrid cars sold in India.
The Honda Civic Hybrid recently entered India while E10 cars (10 percent ethanol) cars like the Accord are already present on Indian roads. Hyundai is planning to bring its own version of Hybrid technology to India. It plans to bring in hybrid variants of the Accent, Sonata and Avante. The domestic auto giant Mahindra and Mahindra has already introduced the Scorpio Hybrid for its market abroad.
Most of these hybrids are sold because of their low running costs, but there is a huge difference in the cost of hybrid and original petrol versions of these cars. However, it is electric cars that provide the best answer to saving fuel costs and recovering investment. Interestingly, it is India’s own Electric Car manufacturer Reva Electric Car Company which beats the best in the business and proves to be the most cost effective car.
According to experts, the electrically charged REVAi car can save up to Rs 4,500 in fuel costs every month for a travel distance of 45 km everyday. This amount will help recover the cost of the Reva car within a few years time. On the other hand, recovery of the difference in price between a Hybrid and its petrol counterpart can take years if calculated in cost saving due to fuel-efficiency. However, hybrids do offer better power and comfort compared to the electric cars available in India today.
Labels: Electric Cars, Environment friendly cars, green cars, hybrid cars, LPG cars
The Maruti Suzuki 800 LPG variant has been launched. A welcome relief amidst anxiety caused by rising prices of petrol and diesel. The most fuel efficient car in India just got a lot better and a lot cleaner. Like the Maruti WagonR Duo, the new version is being called ‘Maruti 800 Duo’.
The LPG option is available on both the AC and Non-AC variants of the car. The new variants are currently priced between Rs. 2.05 Lakh and Rs 2.26 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
Maruti has previously sold a large number of LPG variants of the WagonR and the Omni. The new Maruti 800 Duo will be even more popular. Afterall, the 800 is without a doubt India’s most popular family car.
Labels: CNG cars, LPG cars, Maruti Suzuki, new car launch
Hyundai has always stood for innovative technologies and customer friendly policies. It has been in the forefront of several customer friendly campaigns, while releasing cars with better fuel efficiency. It has now gone a step ahead and tried to integrate alternative fuel technology in its passenger cars following other car manufacturer like Maruti, Tata and Ford.
The company will be launching LPG variants of Santro and Accent in August this year. It is also likely to launch a green variant of the award winning i10 car. With the success of green model i30 in Australia, the company is now planning to introduce similar cars in India. It will be available with alternative fuel variant next year. The cars would meet the Euro V emission standards. The company has made huge investment in development of eco-friendly cars. The LPG variants may just be the first step in this direction.
Though this concept is also slowing catching up in India, according to statistics from the International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles, India is the 5th largest producer of green vehicles in the world. With the use of these types of cars, air pollution could be minimised. These cars also decreases the running cost of the vehicle.
Labels: eco-friendly cars, Hybrid eco-friendly cars, LPG cars
I read recently that the fumes from a car’s exhaust could trigger heart disease and increase the risk of strokes. That has got me worried about the scene here with
Indian cars.
I know that most new cars in India comply with the Bharat stage 3 emission norms, but there are still those few cars that are not in this bracket. The scary ground reality is that pollution levels are soaring beyond average safety levels. Just a small ride through a traffic-congested road in a metro leaves you with a tarred face. And its not just metros that are affected by this! Even smaller cities and towns are now reaching that stage.
I think it would be best to have all cars fitted with LPG/CNG kits compulsorily. In that way, it would reduce the dependence on petrol/diesel engines which are more polluting.
Submitted by Keep-Your-City-Clean
Labels: Car-Emissions, CNG cars, Environment friendly cars, LPG cars
The Prime Minister of India recently told the planning commission to work on a policy that helps cutting fuel emissions in our country. Global warming has already knocked us a blow in the face of a Tsunami. The melting glaciers in the Himalayan mountain range and rising temperatures are also serious matters of concern.
Putting together all these issues, the Indian government seems to be working on a policy to build better transport systems in bigger cities, but the questions I am dying to ask the honourable PM is: Why make a policy without enough infrastructure to support such a plan? Where are the LPG or CNG gas stations in India except one or two cities? Why is the government making it difficult for eco-friendly cars to come to India?
Imported cars are flooding to India and growing as fast as the Indian population. Such policies fall flat without government support to back it up.
Article Submitted by Concerned IndianLabels: CNG cars, eco-friendly cars, Global Warming, Imported cars, LPG cars
