Delhi Looking to Ban Autorickshaws and Replace Them With Electric Cars or Motorbikes
19 March 2010
The Guardian. Delhi, India’s chief minister Sheila Dikshit says she want to phase out the pervasive three-wheeled autorickshaws that swarm through the capital’s streets and introduce electric cars or electric motorbikes to replace them.
Amid uproar in the state assembly, she said that no ban would be imposed “immediately”. But Dikshit’s comments signalled the likely start of a long campaign to prepare public opinion for the demise of one of the capital’s best-known sights. “Autorickshaws are not a good option. They are uncomfortable and pollute [the] environment. Autorickshaw drivers are unruly and harass passengers,” she said.
The authorities in the congested city are struggling to find ways to handle increasing levels of traffic brought on by India’s economic boom. Three times as many cars, buses and motorbikes clog the country’s roads as 15 years ago. Laws intended to restrict the number of autorickshaws in Delhi are widely flouted. Though the city has 55,000 registered, at least another 25,000 operate illegally.
“Sheila Dikshit wants to phase out the pervasive three-wheeled autorickshaws that swarm through the capital’s streets .. .. They are uncomfortable and pollute [the] environment. Autorickshaw drivers are unruly and harass passengers,” she said.
Apparently somebody likes them.
Their problem is probably the result of no vehicle emission control infrastructure. Much as I detest such systems, it effectively controls auto pollution.
As for drivers harassing passengers, ah, um – repeal the law that forces people to ride them?
Posted by: ToppaTom | 19 March 2010 at 03:08 AM
Are they trying to lessen congestion or clear the pollution (of noisy 2-stroke engines)?
Electric rickshaws would be clean and quiet. These little vehicles would be perfect candidates for EV's. Today's tech is enough for them. India could quickly jump into this.
Posted by: danm | 19 March 2010 at 02:03 PM
I can remember people saying that "smog pumps" in the 70s was big government interference. No lead gasoline and catalytic converters were a burden on consumers and manufacturers.
The L.A. basin did not become like the Mexico City basin with severe air pollution and lives were saved. It seems like some people will complain about everything and if we go their way we would be in a worse mess right now.
Posted by: SJC | 19 March 2010 at 02:56 PM
I suspect that 100,000, 2 passenger rickshaws, at 200 pounds each, would be better upgraded with clean engines than replaced by thousands of 1500+ pound individually owned electric autos or taxis.
I am not sure if a rickshaw driver, desperately trying to make a living could afford an electric rickshaw; it would need very good range if it was to make money all day.
Electric motorbikes implies low cost and short range, and more of them, individually owned with much less utilization on each.
One wonders why they have not forced rickshaws, a very effective form of mass transit (but heavy polluters), to become cleaner. Maybe for the same humanitarian reasons that they should not force them out of business now.
Maybe their auto industry is more important.
Posted by: ToppaTom | 19 March 2010 at 10:07 PM
In New Delhi, most city buses, private buses, motorbikes, rickshaws and many private trucks and cars are heavy polluters.
Reducing air pollution in that very large city without heavy government intervention is a real challenge. People keep their vehicle for 20+ years and most of them pollute more as they get older. Secondly, the ICE vehicle fleet is increasing very rapidly.
Something similar to CAFE for new ALL vehicles would work but could take 2 to 4 decades to make a real difference.
Massive increase in low fare cost (4000+ locally built hybrid and electric buses + subway lines) public transport may be a quicker solution.
Posted by: HarveyD | 20 March 2010 at 10:11 AM
There’s a clear need to switch to green mode but it needs to be handled carefully. Autowallahs are life-line of Delhi and they already shifted to CNG back then when told. Lets provide them free upgrades or something like it. Govt should bear initial cost and recover it slowly though some innovative mechanism
Posted by: Account Deleted | 21 March 2010 at 12:35 AM
The change to a more sustainable running Indian auto-rickshaw park, needs to be handled carefully. The rickshaw drivers and their Unions have the power the obstruct this change. Eco Tuk believes in the simple conversion of the current running auto-rickshaws into their Direct Injected LPG injection which gives the auto-driver an advantage of 53% in terms of fuel costs, which, makes it also interesting for him to change. Furthermore this after market kit reduces CO2 emissions with 40% and SMOG almost with almost 100%. Conclusion; offer win-win-win solutions for all the stake holders!
Eco Tuk
Posted by: EcoTuk | 18 June 2010 at 02:38 AM