Fuel consumption reduction technologies for the two-wheeler fleet in India

The two-wheeler market in India is currently dominated by internal combustion engine (ICE) technology, and this vehicle segment is not subject to fuel consumption standards. Given that the two-wheeler fleet consumes more gasoline than all other forms of on-road transport combined, it is important to consider ways to improve the technologies adopted in ICE two-wheelers and to reduce fleet average fuel consumption. The shift from carburetor technology to fuel injection that has come with the implementation of India’s Bharat Stage VI emission standards provides the basis from which to consider other incremental technologies for fuel efficiency improvement in the two-wheeler segment. There are many technologies available that can achieve this, and to promote widespread adoption of them, India needs to adopt a fuel consumption/CO2 standard for two-wheelers. To identify realistic fuel consumption targets for small motorcycles, large motorcycles, and scooters, and for the entire two-wheeler fleet, this webinar explains our most recent paper that evaluates the cost-effectiveness and the payback period of different ICE vehicle technologies. While a transition to electric two-wheelers seems inevitable, results show there are opportunities in the interim to obtain better efficiency from ICE pathways. Adoption of stringent fuel consumption standards will give a clearer signal to vehicle manufacturers in terms of how much longer to exploit the ICE pathway and enable rapid transition to electrification.