India to follow US and Europe in its fuel efficiency norms

India is looking ahead to change its fuel efficiency norms so that these norms can be measured through different cars by a company rather than a single vehicle. Officials from the power ministry's bureau of energy efficiency and the surface transport ministry said that such changes will bring in fuel efficiency rules in India in sync with the US and the European countries that already have these these norms in operation there.

Worldwide these guidelines are referred as corporate average fuel efficiency standards. In India, a company like Maruti manufactures total of 12 models  right from hatchback Maruti Alto to SUV, Maruti Grand Vitara and if such norms are applicable then the average fuel efficiency of its entire models would be measured not for a single model. An associated person said that if Maruti Grand Vitara consumes high amount of fuel thereby distorting the average fuel consumption rate then the company can either opt to improve the fuel efficiency of that particular model or lower down sales figures.By this, the company will be able to abide by the fuel efficiency norms and maintain the balance of its models on the whole.

The officials of ministry of road transport, highways and power said that government wants the automakers to improve these norms over a period of time. Currently the Corporate Average Fuel Economy(CAFE) obligates a particular level of fuel consumption in vehicles sold in its domestic market.

These new norms are currently under the construction and it will be used by measuring the weight of the car as a criteria for fixing the particular norm and its average would be set by the company.

S K Dash,the joint secretary in the ministry of road and surface transports confirmed that new norms are under process and discussions are in progress for its implementation. He added that it would be too early to comment on its as these norms are on its initial stage. According to the sources there are possibilities that the automakers will have to follow the average fuel efficiency for all its cars in a given time or else the company may be penalised.

With this the Indian government is looking ahead at the energy saving benefits. Ajay Mathur, the director of Bureau of Energy Efficiency said that they are open to global norms for fuel efficiency and are working with the auto industry to make applicable the norms, efficiently and effectively, based on the needs of domestic market.

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