Putting 'the People's Car' under the microscope

At a price of $2,500 US, I don't think anyone can argue about that, but what about the price when it comes to the environmental impact? The car is being marketed to lower-income families who can be seen racing around on their scooters or motorcycles, 3 or 4 on a single bike. Having those families in cars is clearly safer, but of course there is always a cost attached to such things.

The company professes that "the People’s Car’s tailpipe emission performance exceeds regulatory requirements. In terms of overall pollutants, it has a lower pollution level than two-wheelers being manufactured in India today. The high fuel efficiency also ensures that the car has low carbon dioxide emissions, thereby providing the twin benefits of an affordable transportation solution with a low carbon footprint."

This statement, although promising, can be nebulous. "Regulatory requirements" are not very stringent in India, and as for having a lower pollution level than two-wheelers, it would depend on which ones.

 

The Nano, which has an all-aluminum 2-cylinder engine and most likely attached to a catalytic converter (although it is not mentioned), most certainly has cleaner emissions, however we should not fail to account for the fact that the car will use up substantially more fuel than a lighter bike, thereby creating more emissions.

 

Considering the vast population in India, this can have a major impact, both on the environment and society. In a country where streets are clogged with people, animals, horse and ox drawn carts, along with the cars and motorcycles, it will be interesting to see what a new influx of cheap vehicles will do.

Even ignoring tailpipe emissions, with the large numbers expected the sell, the footprint from producing the steel, aluminum, plastics, etc., is quite large. And anything that makes cars more accessible is going to increase the carbon footprint of India substantially.

Of course we need only look in our own backyards to see that Tata is simply working to help India catch up to the developed world.  But that's not necessarily the most noble of pursuits.

via Yahoo! News

via Tata People's Car