Autodrivers want a Nano revolution

Ditching the three-wheeler for the car is attractive cost-wise but environmentalists warn that the Nano can be twice as polluting

Autodrivers want a Nano revolution

Ditching the three-wheeler for the car is attractive cost-wise but environmentalists warn that the Nano can be twice as polluting

Bangalore could soon be saying hello Nano, goodbye auto as autorickshaw drivers think the Rs-1 lakh car is a cheaper and better option.

Bangalore Auto Drivers' Souharda Cooperative Limited (ADSCL) plans to introduce 100 Nano cars as part of a city taxi service that will replace autos.

But before that, it will need the approval of the state government and Tata Motors.

"The Nano car is cheaper than an auto," said R Somashekar, president of ADSCL. "It will certainly ensure a comfortable ride compared to an auto but we have to check if it travels as freely as an auto on Bangalore roads."

Nano numbers

Over 1,500 Nanos are expected to roll out by the end of this month. The number is expected to gradually increase. Some 2,500-3,000 cars are expected in June and 4,000 and 7,000 cars are expected by July and September respectively.

"I was planning to purchase an auto," said Sathish S, who wants to rent out an auto. "But I have now decided to go in for the Nano."

Pollution

Though autos and Nanos are comparable in terms of price and mileage (see box), the latter is not a great option when it comes to emissions. Autos are less polluting since most run on LPG.

While a diesel-driven Nano emits 2.7 kg CO2 per litre, the petrol version is said to emit 2.3 kg CO2 per litre. An LPG auto emits half the amount.

According to a World Bank report, though CO2 levels are the same in both CNG and petrol-driven cars, the PM10 (particulate matter below 10 micrometers) is almost double in the case of petrol engines.

"A Tata Nano car is twice as polluting as an LPG auto," said environmentalist A N Yelappa Reddy. An LPG Nano can serve cities like Bangalore."u00a0u00a0

Procedures

Transport commissioner Bhaskar Rao says that his department hasn't heard from Tata Motors yet. But if they do, the procedure is standard. "After certification by ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India), we clear it for registration in Karnataka. It is during this process that we decide its usage," he said.

Auto vs Nano
>>Cost: Both auto and Nano cost Rs 1.3 lakh including VAT, insurance and road tax, making the four-wheeler a better choice.
>>Mileage: While the Nano has a mileage of 20 km/l, an auto runs at 25 km/l.u00a0
>>Emission: A diesel-driven Nano is said to emit 2.7 kg CO2 per litre while the petrol version emits 2.3 kg CO2 per litre. An LPG auto emits barely half the amount.