Indian transportation industry: Environmental Concerns, issue and development

Vibhor Jajoo* Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Banaras Hindu University, IIT (BHU), Varanasi
*Corresponding author (email: vibhor.jajoo.bhu@gmail.com) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Abstract
With the fast depleting fossil fuel reserve and increasing environmental hazards due to their burning future of transportation industry future especially alternative fuels being highly debated and researched from last decade. The reason of alert for transportation industry is because transportation industry not only uses maximum percentage of petroleum products but also have significance percentage for carbon and climate problems. According to International Energy agency data records 2007, 61.2% of total world oil energy consumption is in transportation sector and contribute more than 30% of Carbon dioxide emission of world total. According to hubberts peak theory petroleum reserves will last till 2050, so we need to switch from petroleum to some renewable now. Unfortunately India has very less petroleum reserve and has to imports 80% of its total petroleum consumption and petroleum reserve is concentrated in very few region and most of them are politically unstable. That make much more sense for not to be dependent on only fossil fuels. India is a rapid growing country so its transportation industry. Indian transportation industry is under heavy load of increasing population and environmental concerns. Its need of today to model and plan for the whole system not only scientifically but politically too to have safe future of transportation in India. 21st century has brought high investment in area of renewable by Indian government due to it being centre of worlds politics, resulting in lot of alternative are available in research division and market. Kyoto protocol is currently most important agreement between world various countries & India and China are key members for finalizing the protocol agreement. This paper focuses on sustainable development plan concerning environment for transportation industry of world as well specially concentrate on India. This paper also looks into availability, future of alternative fuels like biodiesel, electric cars and even nuclear energy for transportation industry.

Introduction
First we should begin with transportation industry consumption around the world and in India. From last 40 years transportation industry has grown very rapidly. Currently World have total 806 million cars the engines of these burn over a billion cubic meters (260 billion US gallons) of gasoline and diesel fuel yearly [6]. As of 2010, India is home to 40 million passenger vehicles. More than 3.7 million automotive vehicles were produced in India in 2010 (an increase of 33.9%), making the country the second fastest growing automobile market in the world [2-3]. According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, annual vehicle sales are projected to increase to 5 million by 2015 and more than 9 million by 2020 [4]. By 2050, the country is expected to top the world in car volumes with approximately 611 million vehicles on the nation's roads [5]. Figure 1 shows world energy consumption by sector of last 40 years, Transportation uses increased from 45% to 61%. Transportation industry is highly depending upon oil sector and hubberts peak theory shows that oil will not last later than 2050. India currently uses 200 million ton crude oil [12] out of which imports 159 million ton of crude oil in single year [1] which is nearly 5.03% of world total production. The total world energy supply has increased by 40% from 1990 to 2008, with a relatively constant share of fossil energy at around 80% as shown in figure 2. The share of coal however has increased significantly the last decade. In order to address the problems arising from global warming, a large scale reduction in the supply and use of fossil fuels is critical.

Wide varieties of renewable energy sources, as well as a more efficient use of energy both need to be adopted all over the world. Industry Transport 15.6 16.8 Non Energy Others Oil 23.2 11.5 12.8 16.8 5.8 2.3 45.4 57.7 61.2 27.2 19.9 1973 9.9 2004 9.2 2007 Figure 2: World Energy Generation, Fossil fuels are still dominant (Year 2009) (Source: International Energy Agency) 20.9 11 32.8 Hydroelectric Natural Gas Nuclear Coal Alternative

Figure 1: World Oil Energy Consumption by Sector in years 1997, 2004 and 2007 shows increasing demand of oil for transportation. (Source: International Energy Agency)

Global Warming & Pollution: Contribution of Transportation Industry

Road Transport 14 22.9 Aviation Domestic Navigation Maritime 3.7 2.4 0.9 42.1 13.6 Energy 0.4 Other Transport Others

Figure 3: Total CO2 emission of world is 28999.4 million tons, Transport industry plays major role and contribute more than 30% of total emission (Year 2009) (Source: International Energy Agency) Transportation industry contributes a lot in global warming as it produces a significant amount of pollution including carbon dioxide. Figure 3 shows total CO2 emission by sector. It is predominantly mobile or vehicular pollution that contributes to overall air quality problem. In Delhi (India), the data shows that of the total 3,000 metric tonnes of pollutant [7] belched out every day, close to two-third (66%) is from vehicles. Similarly, the contribution of vehicles to urban air pollution is 52% in Bombay and close to one-third in Calcutta [8]. Katz

(1994) has estimated that in Santiago, Chile, wherever pollution concentration exceeds ambient standards, mobile sources or vehicles are the cause. Similarly, in case of Budapest, Hungary, transport is the dominant source of emissions except sulphur dioxide (SO2), contributing 57% of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), 80% of lead (Pb), 81% of carbon monoxide (CO) and 75% of hydrocarbon (HC) emissions (Lehoczki, 2000). [9] A number of countries have targeted vehicles and associated sectors (such as, fuel) to curb the menace. Notable successful initiatives are: conversion of public transport from diesel to CNG in Delhi (India), switching of Vikrams (tuk-tuks) from diesel to electricity in Kathmandu valley, shifting from leaded to unleaded gasoline in many countries etc. Still the pollution problem in urban cities may continue to loom large due to everburgeoning vehicular population, which is outpacing any such measure and road network development. Following data gives a glimpse of such skewed growth. Against 1.9 million vehicular population in 1990 in Delhi (India), it rose to nearly 3.6 million in the year 2001 (i.e., an increase of nearly 87%). During the same period, Delhi (India)s population has increased by only 43% (from 9.5 million to 13.8 million) and road-length by merely 14% (from 22,000 Km to 25,000 Km) respectively. Situation is similar across a number of cities in India and the developing world. This indicates the exigency of controlling vehicular pollution. 1 700.0 1 500.0 1 300.0 1 100.0 900.0 700.0 500.0 300.0 100.0 1970

1990 2000 2010 Year Figure 4: World CO2 emission from year 1970 to 2010 (Source: International Energy Agency)

30 000 28 000 26 000 24 000 22 000 20 000 18 000 16 000 14 000 12 000 1970

Million tonnes of CO2

1980

1990 2010 Year Figure 5: India CO2 emission from year 1970 to 2010 (Source: International Energy Agency). Indian emissions are increasing exponentially and contribute around 5.47% of world total.

Development and growth:

Transportation industry is increasing rapidly and on account we cannot make it free neither we can stop this. But for a sustainable an effective growth its need that government and technician will work together. In this section this paper discussed some of solution approached and some solution that should be taken in brief 1. Alternative Fuel Solution:

There is need to review and examine various fuels in todays scenario showing promising sustainable future. Past study shows that nuclear energy is most promising for future but current crisis in Japan enforce us to rethink on this. Due to hazards created by man over nature, it tries to restore itself by such natural disaster. On other hand Blend of petroleum or artificial oil with alcohols and vegetable oil performs do best in regards to combustion and emission characteristics. Against reported by some authors about unavailability of land in production of biodiesel, it should be considered that around 29% of total government land has no use. Only in India 36 million hectare land of government is not currently in use, out of which 28 million litre of biodiesel can be obtained on basis of model of Brazil. Secondly Increasing world population would make reduce of land available for these flues. It should also be remembered that these alternatives may be used in current engines without making any big changes. Another promising future shown by solar energy as it is safe, sustainable and comparable to price of petroleum economy but the problem with this source is that its availability does not remain same in all part of world and

Million tonnes of CO2 Emission

efficiency vary over whole year depend on weather. Another problem with this energy system is that solar equipments cannot be movable and too heavy in regards to transportation vehicle. A statically study is need of today evaluating these fuels in various categories with different credit allotted to each category depended on scenario in future and suggest government to invest wisely. It is also necessary to suggest transportation industry about their research division should be focussed on reducing fuel consumption and developing new propulsion based on unconventional fuel sources. 2. Government Initiative:

Government is having an important position and power to maintain transportation industry by providing incentives and regulating environmental favored policies. Table 1 lists instruments to curb environmental impacts from vehicle. Table 1: Policy Instruments to Curb Environmental Impact from Vehicles Market Based (MB) Instruments Command and Control (CAC) Instruments Direct Indirect Direct Indirect Emission Fees Tradable permits, e.g., in Emission Standards for Compulsory inspection & [11] Singapore [11] new vehicles e.g., maintenance (I&M) for EURO I, II [8] emission control for inservice vehicles e.g., Pollution certification in India [11] Differential vehicle Technology standards, Mandatory use of less taxation, e.g., less excise e.g., registration of polluting vehicles or change duty and sales tax on CNG vehicles fitted with in engines e.g., from run vehicles [7] catalytic converters in gasoline to CNG or electric Thailand, Delhi, in Delhi, Kathmandu etc. [8] Budapest [10] Tax allowance for new Compulsory scrappage or vehicles or low-cost loan repair of old & most option for cleaner vehicles polluting vehicles e.g., in e.g., CNG run vehicles in Budapest, Delhi etc. [10] Delhi [7] Green labelling of vehicles e.g., CNG run buses [11] 2-tiered systems inducing cleaner vehicles to selfreveal [8] Product charge Differential fuel taxation Fuel composition or Fuel economic standards, on fuel,* e.g., in e.g., on leaded & unleaded quality regulations e.g., e.g., CAF standards for Hungary [7] fuel in Thailand [7] S content or pre-mixed passenger cars and light 2T [7] trucks in US [7] High fuel taxes or Banning or phasing out Speed limits [11] Marketable permits for of high polluting fuels fossil fuels [7] e.g., leaded petrol [7] Green labelling of fuels [7] Auctioning Congestion charges e.g., in Physical restraint of Restraint on vehicle use at traffic routes Singapore [11] traffic, Zoning etc. e.g., certain times of day or night e.g., in Chile [11] city centres of e.g., in Singapore, Mexico, developed countries [11] Rohtak (India) [10] Parking charges [11] Designated routes [11] Lanes for buses, 2-wheelers and cars etc. e.g., in Edinburgh, Delhi etc. (4)

Type Engine/ Vehicle

Fuel

Traffic

Subsidies for less Polluting Modes [10]

Better public transport or physical infrastructure such as Metro rails in Delhi, Budapest [10]

Green labelling of transportation services, e.g., DTC in Delhi [10] Environmentally Integrate d Differentiated Curitiba (Brazil) [10] road pricing e.g. in Singapore [10] Source: Button and Rietveld (1999: 586), Sterner (2002) and authors own compilations. Notes : Figure in parentheses is the stage at which these instruments can be applied. * - A charge on fuel is a close substitute to direct emission tax. Emission charge though is economically efficient and environmentally effective, but is not feasible due to high enforcement costs, whereas fuel charges can closely substitute direct emission tax and would yield intended results (Lechcozki, 2000: 124). 3. Technological Government Solution Table 2: Technological Government Solution Policy I 1 Technological Initiatives Regulation / Administrative Initiatives Economic / Market Based initiatives Urban planning, e.g., in

II 1

Vehicle Kilometres 1) Dedicated bus ways Public e.g., 1) Bus priorities in Bogota 2) Public transport regulatory reform Transport share 2) Starting mass rapid transportation system (MRTS) like Metro rail. Restraining 1) Vehicle use limitation on few days e.g., Mexico City, Bogota, Demand Santiago etc. 2) Parking policies like no parking facilities in city centres in many developed countries 3) Zoning Private 1) High occupancy vehicle (HOV) Lanes e.g., bus lanes in Vehicle London, Occupancy Edinburgh 2) Parking Priority to HOVs 3) Encouraging Car Pooling Fuel Used per vehicle Kilometre Fuel 1) Engine efficiency 1) Fuel economy standards 2) Speed limits Economy 2) Vehicle size Encouraging Investment in NMT Protection of NMT in road use Noninfrastructure e.g., e.g., in Netherlands, Sweden etc. separate bicycle lanes in right of way to NMT than MT. motorised traffic (NMT) Netherlands, Sweden etc. Improving 1) Intelligent traffic system Traffic technology e.g., in most EU countries Management

Subsidy to public transport e.g., in most developing and Scandinavian countries 1) Road pricing e.g., Singapore, Chile etc. 2) Fuel tax e.g., Hungary, 3) Parking policies 4) Taxing vehicles by distance run 1) Congestion pricing e.g., Singapore, Seoul, Norway 2) Differential tax incentives for HOVs Fuel Taxation e.g., in Hungary

III 1

Emissions per unit of fuel used Improving fuel quality Improving Vehicle Maintenance Improving conventional diesel technology

Improving 2& 3-wheeler technology

Using alternative fuels

1) Tighter diesel fuel standards 2) Ban on leaded gasoline e.g., in EU, Bangladesh, Nepal etc. 1) Age restriction on vehicles e.g., in EU, Nepal 2) I&M programme 1) Switching conventional 1) Tighter emission standards for infuel injection system to use vehicles multipoint fuel injection 2) in sulphur content to enable (MPFI) system catalyst adoption 2) Oxidation Catalyst (with 0.005% S in diesel) 1) Higher quality lubricant 1) Tighter 2T lubricant standard for two-stroke engine 2) Banning registration of 2- stroke 2) Pre-mix fuel for twoengines in Dhaka (Bangladesh) Tighter 2- and 3-wheeler stroke 3) emission Standards 1) Investment in CNG 1) Tight PM standards distribution e.g., India 2) Mandating use of Gas e.g., in 2) Investment in charging Delhi, India conversion of stations e.g., public transport (buses and taxis) Kathmandu for electric to CNG vehicles

Differential taxation on unleaded fuel in Thailand. Differential vehicle taxation

Differential taxation

1) Differential vehicle taxation import duties on CNG kits 2) Differential fuel taxation sales tax on CNG (both in India) Higher tax on conventional diesel

Switching to Ultra-low sulphur fuel ( clean diesel 0.005%) and particle trap Source: Adapted from World Bank (2001a)

Tight PM standards

Table 3: Instruments Chosen in India to mitigate vehicular pollution Policy I 1 2 3 II 1 Technological Initiatives Regulation / Administrative Initiatives Economic / Market Based initiatives Subsidy to public transport in many states Fuel tax / cess

Vehicle Kilometres Public Starting MRTS like Transport share metro rail in Delhi Demand Vehicle Occupancy Fuel Used per vehicle Kilometre Fuel Economy 1) Engine efficiency 2) Vehicle size

Limitation of Auto use on few days in Rohtak (Haryana). HOV (bus) Lanes in Delhi, Chennai Differential tax incentives for HOVs Fuel economy standards S content Fuel Taxation e.g., in & unleaded fuel (all over India) Hungary Speed limits (in different cities)

2 3

III 1 2

Encouraging Separate bicycle lanes in Delhi in some parts. NMT Improving Timer at intersections Traffic in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Delhi Management Emissions per unit of fuel used Improving fuel Quality Improving Vehicle

Separate lanes for cars, 2-wheelers and buses in some areas of Chennai, Delhi Tighter diesel fuel standards Ban on leaded gasoline throughout Age restriction on vehicles e.g., in Differential vehicle Delhi, Pune etc. taxation in Chennai

3 4

Maintenance conventional diesel technology Improving 2- & 3-wheeler Technology

Switching to MPFI system Pre-mix fuel for twostroke - in all 4 metros

I&M programme in Delhi in sulphur content to enable catalyst adoption Tighter 2- and 3-wheeler emission standards e.g., in India Registration ban of 2- stroke engines in Delhi Tight PM standards EURO II Mandating use of CNG in Delhi conversion of public transport (buses and taxis) to CNG

Differential taxation

Using alternative Fuels

Investment in CNG distribution in Delhi

Differential vehicle & fuel taxation (in Delhi) import duty on CNG kit sales tax on CNG

Switching to Tight PM standards clean diesel Source: Kathuria (2002, 2004) and other varied sources.

Conclusion:
Transportation industry is necessity today and will remain to continue in future too. The best solution is to implement technical governmental solution to frame environmental forwarding policies. Alternatives fuels are also not a permanent solution and electric cars are future of transportation industry but is should also be noted that if electricity is coming from crude oil burning or a coal based generator then we in actual are not making any good to environment. A safe and secure and environmental friendly solution is the need and thus we can say that government and industry should focus on safety of future of nuclear reactors. In the same way it is also necessary to implement policies in true way and concern for our planet. Because in the vast universe this blue planet is only place where human can live and survive. All tribes and all tragedy, all the wars all the felons, all the major advances happened on this planet. Its our only home and that is at stake. Our ability to live on planet earth to have future civilization and if we human will not concern about this, we will not be having secure future.

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