New Delhi bans diesel engines over 2.0 litres

The presence of a toxic cloud hanging over large cities seems to be all too common in the society we live in. The concentration of inhabitants in a single place means that car exhaust fumes remain suspended over the city and cause no small number of problems for the people living in its metropolitan area. The residents of Madrid have begun to experience the harshness and severity of the measures taken to contain that harmful cloud, but in other parts of the planet the restrictions are much tougher.

So much so that many European cities have introduced bans to prevent traffic on their streets from becoming excessive and to keep the emission of polluting gases under control. The latest to join that group is a little further away, but it sets a precedent that could make some major manufacturer tremble. It is New Delhi, which has just restricted the sale of cars with diesel engines of 2 litres or more.

The decision comes accompanied by a ruling from the Supreme Court, which upholds what the National Green Tribunal, the body that handles environmental cases, had already argued. Once ratified by the highest institution, Indians have no choice but to prevent the registration of vehicles that meet these requirements. The ban will remain in force until next April, seeking to eliminate part of the smog that hangs over one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Pollution levels in New Delhi have soared, prompting drastic measures

It is no trivial decision. Every day some 1,400 new cars are registered on the streets of New Delhi, which gives an idea of the traffic chaos in that capital. If the most polluting engines are eliminated, the harmful effect of these emissions will probably be reduced to some degree. But this news, although it will surely clear the city’s air, has not been well received by everyone.

Mercedes has distanced itself from it and announces that it will bring a drop in investment in this country, one of the largest in the world. The German company claims that without the ability to fit these engines, which power its best-selling models, by the way, its presence in the Indian market will shrink. The regulation will only be in force during the first quarter of the year, so we are not convinced it will have much effect, and there may be further restrictions in the near future.

For now, a call has been made for taxis to start being replaced by cars powered by Autogas (LPG), so something may improve. Will other cities around the world take note to avoid a repeat of the events in Madrid in recent months? Will this bring a change in the industry, favouring less powerful and less polluting engines? We will have to wait and see.

Via | Carscoops