India’s clean mobility push needs auto LPG for faster emission cuts

India’s clean mobility transition risks slowing down if it relies only on electric vehicles and overlooks auto LPG. While electric vehicles (EVs) receive significant attention and investment, ignoring Auto LPG could delay immediate improvements in air quality and public health. Auto LPG offers rapid emission reductions, lower costs, and existing infrastructure, making it a practical bridge fuel for India’s urban areas.

Key Highlights

• India’s clean mobility plan focuses on EVs but overlooks Auto LPG’s immediate benefits
• Auto LPG cuts key emissions by up to 81 percent and costs 40 percent less than gasoline
• India has over 7000 LPG stations but high taxes and lack of mandates limit adoption
• Policy changes could boost LPG use and help meet clean air and energy security goals

Current Mobility Strategy and Challenges

The Indian government is investing billions in EVs through subsidies, charging stations, and battery research. The goal is for EVs to make up 30 percent of new car sales by 2030. However, 70 percent of India’s electricity still comes from coal. This means EVs are not always clean throughout their lifecycle and can sometimes cause more pollution than expected.

EVs also cost Rs 3-5 lakh more upfront than petrol vehicles. With only 20,000 charging stations across India, access remains limited, especially in smaller towns where 80 percent of cars operate daily.

Meanwhile, over 330 million older petrol and diesel vehicles continue to emit harmful pollutants, including PM2.5 and NOx, worsening air quality in cities like Delhi. These pollutants contribute to asthma, heart disease, and premature deaths. Transport is responsible for 15 percent of India’s CO₂ emissions, so missing out on quick solutions like Auto LPG could hinder clean air progress.

Advantages of Auto LPG

Auto LPG provides immediate emission reductions. Compared to BS-VI petrol, it cuts carbon monoxide by 52 percent, hydrocarbons by 47 percent, and NOx by 81 percent. It nearly eliminates particulate emissions and has zero global warming potential. Auto LPG is cleaner at the tailpipe than EVs powered by coal-heavy grids. At ₹60-70 per litre, it is about 40 percent cheaper than petrol. Converting a car to LPG costs ₹25,000-30,000, making it accessible for taxis, delivery vehicles, and families.

India already has over 7,000 LPG stations, so drivers do not have to wait for new infrastructure. Globally, LPG is the third most used vehicle fuel after petrol and diesel. Eight major carmakers offer factory-fitted LPG models. However, high taxes and GST on LPG and retrofit kits, along with a lack of incentives, limit its adoption. There are no mandates for automakers to provide LPG variants, and expired type approvals create uncertainty. As a result, LPG vehicles make up just 0.5 percent of the fleet, though the potential is up to 10 percent.

Policy Recommendations for Balanced Mobility

Encouraging auto LPG can also improve energy security, as it is produced domestically, unlike imported lithium for EV batteries. To realize these benefits, policies should lower GST on LPG and kits to 5 percent, make retrofit kit approvals permanent, and offer incentives for factory-built LPG vehicles.

Pilot programs for city fleets, such as taxis in Delhi and Mumbai, could cut emissions by 20-30 percent in the short term. Including CAFE-III credits for LPG, as done for CNG, would help fleets meet standards without higher costs. A balanced approach using multiple fuels can help India achieve cleaner air, economic strength, and reliable mobility for all.

Also Read: India boosts LPG production, calls for fuel conservation amid West Asia crisis

CarBike 360 Says

​India’s transition to cleaner mobility cannot rely on a single solution. Auto LPG presents a practical, scalable option that delivers immediate emission reductions without major infrastructure overhaul. By integrating LPG alongside electric and CNG vehicles, India can accelerate its sustainability goals while ensuring affordability and accessibility for millions of motorists across urban and semi-urban regions.