 "Coming soon: Fuel efficiency star ratings for cars")
New Delhi: Soon, you will be able to compare how your dream car’s mileage stacks up compared to others in the same weight category.
The Government is readying a notification which will not only make it mandatory for car makers to declare certified fuel efficiency or mileage per km on each car at dealerships but will also allot them a five star rating on the basis of fuel efficiency.
This will be similar to the energy efficiency ratings which now come on all home appliances like refrigerators and microwaves, where five stars depict the lowest power consumption. In the case of cars, power will be replaced by fuel.
[caption id=“attachment_694013” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] ehicles would be divided in different weight categories up to 3,500 kg and rated on the basis of mileage. AFP[/caption]
Only, there seems to be little clarity till now about how the rating will work. If the fuel efficiency will be calculated only on the basis of vehicle weight, then obviously lighter, smaller cars would get the maximum stars since they would offer more mileage per litre of fuel.
A senior official of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said today that vehicles would be divided in different weight categories up to 3,500 kg and rated on the basis of mileage. But what about comparisons when cars of the same weight or in similar weight category which run on different fuel types - diesel or petrol?
This official said a factor would be introduced in the rating system which would also take they type of fuel used into account before assigning number of stars. As of now, this system of star ratings would be used only for four wheelers which weigh up to 3500 kg. Iti is not being implemented on trucks or two wheelers.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsA fuel efficiency rating has been in the works for a long time now, though the automobile industry has been voluntarily declaring certified fuel efficiency on its cars since 2009. Earlier, India was debating whether to rate cars on the basis of mileage per litre of fuel or on the basis of Carbon-di-Oxide emitted per km but then decided to go with the first criterion.
The voluntary label which car companies have already begun displaying works like this: If you want to buy a Maruti Alto, the fuel efficiency labelling will tell you the car’s weight, engine capacity, emission stage (BS III or BS IV), fuel type (diesel, petrol, CNG) and fuel efficiency in kmpl. For the 800-cc Alto, the figures will be: 705 kg, 796 cc, BS IV, gasoline and 19.7 kmpl. Similar data is available for all other cars sold in India.
Earlier, the auto industry had protested Government’s decision to allot star ratings, saying it would not serve any incremental purpose. It had also questioned the criteria being discussed to award these ratings.
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