Last year at the Glasgow Summit in November 2021, India announced that it would cut carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030 by increasing its reliance on renewable energy by 50 percent. Along with this, it was announced that the country aims to achieve zero-zero emissions by 2070. At the same time, in this year’s Union Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made some announcements that seem to fit in that agenda.
Apart from announcing the battery swapping policy, the minister revealed that restricted areas would be set up in the country where ICE vehicles would not be allowed. Simultaneously, “Special mobility zones will be introduced with a zero fossil fuel policy, to promote the use of public transport in urban areas.” It’s unclear when this no-go policy for ICE vehicles will go into effect, but there’s a lot to consider.
Some media reports cited the example of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Which stated that petrol cars that do not comply with Euro 4 emission standards, and diesel cars that do not meet Euro 6 standards, have to be paid every time they enter the ULEZ in London. Let us tell you, air pollution is a major health concern in the big cities of India. New Delhi has already enacted laws to keep this under control, banning petrol and diesel cars over a certain age, and making it legal to convert old cars to EVs.
Also read: Cars fair will be held this month! From Maruti WagonR to Kia Carens, these great vehicles will be launched
At the same time, it is also a fact that one cannot ban the operation of vehicles in any city, at least not now, as it will completely disrupt everyday life. While CNG kits have already been allowed for BS4-compliant cars, a similar legislation for BS6 cars will be proposed soon.