Age old debate, which is better, diesel or petrol?
White petrol fumes and black diesel fumes are common sights in our cities. Diesel being more prevalent.
Loading ...Many will simply say, Diesel obviously, since it emits much lesser CO2 and goes more kilometers to the liter of fuel. Other’s will say Petrol, it does not give out that black smoke which to many is perceived as direct pollution.
Here are some bare facts.
This is a very technical issue. This article is for non-technical people.
On any given day in Bangalore, or for that matter, any city, you will see a lot of drivers using their high beams to drive in traffic. Legally, this is not allowed by traffic regulations. But if one sees closely, many use it more out of compulsion or need rather than intension.
A factory fitted High Beam Throw
“Fuel efficiency and speed do not go hand in hand” is a Myth.
The Ferrari F1 machine
Contrary to popular belief, F1 cars are actually very Fuel Efficient for the amount of speed and performance they have. At one point of time, a few years back, Honda actually Won races back to back just because they had to carry lesser fuel in their energy efficient cars to complete the races. Less fuel translates to lesser weight, and lesser weight translates to better efficiency and speed. We can all see how that learning has translated into much efficient street cars from Honda. [more]
So here we are, 1 billion + and celebrating the birth of the most affordable energy efficient transport in India, and one cannot imagine how different it would have been if TATA actually spent that money on developing a road-going electric transit system that was greener overall. Well, no point thinking now as the People’s car of India is out. Sure, it’s no match for the Original People’s Car, the Volkswagen Beetle, but it sure does make it’s point.
No we are not here to argue weather the Nano is a good, bad or ugly idea. We are going to think slightly larger, as to why we are so deprived of Hybrids in India where the world seems to be heading everywhere with them.
Case in Point, the Honda Civic Hybrid. The car is a gem, the Hybrid is a darling, yes it does not have the power and torque to match its complete gas burning twin, but sure does a lot for the environment. And because of that, one would think that the authorities should actually stand up and promote such an effort, but we don’t really see that happening. The car costs a whopping 75% + over it’s gas burning counterpart.
The Honda Civic Hybrid, Green.. but at a price.
A few days back I was walking down M.G.Road killing time while the car was at the service station on St. Marks Road. Well, that’s not the main story.
As usual, I walk down till Cafe Coffee Day under the Bombay Store, get me a Cappuccino and walk around. I spot two women who come out of Bombay Store and confidently walk towards a car, a Black Suzuki Alto, and try to open in. They try for sometime and give up.
Suzuki Alto (or Maruti Alto, 4 door version of the same)