The worst fallout of the Volkswagen fracas was the diversion from real reasons behind emissions and pollution to the mistaken notion that diesel is the dirtier fuel. This in turn led to the ban on registration of new diesel vehicles having engine capacity greater than 2000 cc in Delhi. Sentiment doesn’t serve scientific solutions well.
Let’s first assume that automobiles are indeed the cause of the air quality problem in Delhi. Consider this – all new vehicles, irrespective of the fuel they consume, are compliant with the currently permitted emissions. While the emission levels of older vehicles built to earlier standards are much higher.
If the air quality has to be improved, the older vehicles need to move off the road. Also, consider this, the emissions of heavy commercial vehicles are the highest and cumulative emissions of two-wheelers are higher than cumulative emissions of cars. Clearly there is a pecking order, which, if followed, could have a positive effect on air quality.
The current ban on registering new diesel vehicles having engines larger than 2000 cc is therefore baffling. The good thing is that it is a three-month experiment, and a proper study of the data in that period will lead to more informed, better decision making. These three months will spur conversations, get facts on the table and the hardship of the companies making the affected vehicles will be the cost incurred for greater good in the long run.