GoI’s decision to consider fitness and pollution rather than age to determine the end of life of vehicles is a step in the right direction. This change will incentivise better maintenance of cars, ensuring that less polluting vehicles ply on the roads. The proposed change will align the vehicle scrapping policy with efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of vehicles.
The shift’s success entirely depends on the robustness of how a vehicle’s fitness will be determined. Parameters for a clean chit must be clearly defined, and the compliance process must be robust and transparent. Every measure must be taken to prevent gaming of the system.
A system of periodic fitness certification will need to be put in place, together with authorised certification centres and personnel. A system that puts a premium on a car’s fitness will push all owners to invest in maintaining their vehicles. This has a positive impact on tailpipe emissions, and could reduce vehicular pollution considerably. Linking the lifespan of a vehicle with its on-road fitness as against mandatory scrapping after a certain number of years is resource-efficient.
Making it possible for fit-for-road vehicles for a longer period is in keeping with the concept of sustainable consumption and production, and GoI’s Mission LiFE programme. This shift must in no way slow down or dilute tightening of Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, by which automakers are required to lower the fuel consumption of cars by reducing CO2 emissions.
Not only will the ‘clean’ quotient of vehicles on our roads improve, but by giving consumers a little more space, the shift will also aid the transition from traditional ICE vehicles to greener ones, be it EVs or fuel cell cars.
