Indians prefer Value for Money than protecting the Environment

According to an Economic times survey conducted on the Indian buyer only 21% look for environmental friendliness as compared to 65% who look more at the value for money tag.Although this survey was not done keeping in mind cars and was more for groceries I have no doubt there would be any difference even if this would be the same trend if you were asking an average car buyer in India.

Value for money is the key term here i.e. getting the maximum bang for their buck.Hopefully car manufacturers do keep this in Mind.


Source:
Economictimes

Biofuels - Not so green an option.

Biofuel is the in thing right now with manufacturers deciding that sporting bio-fuel compliant stickers is the best way to protect the environment.

Though it would significantly lower the fuel bills of our country environmentalists are raising the question that biofuels would actually do more harm to the environment than be of any help.The biggest problem they say is that forest cover is being destroyed inorder to grow these biofuels thereby actually increasing the greenhouse emissions rather than decreasing them.Another worry is that do you want to feed humans or cars,with biofuels directly competing with food for human consumption.This is leading to an adverse effect in the form of rising food prices.Given a choice the government would rather prefer rising fuel prices to an increase in the prices of food.

Biofuel companies are painting a rosy picture by saying that wastelands[non-arable] would be used for cultivation of these biofuels but in reality it is the arable areas which is being used for cultivation in most areas.

Globally biofuels are now turning out to be a more costly affair so much so that the attraction in turns of lower fuel bills is actually decreasing and is turning to a point where it does not make any economic sense either.Global consumption of biofuels is thus on the downward path.

So is all this hype with regards to biofuels actually worth it in the end.

Something for Honda to keep in Mind

Its no secret that Honda plan to introduce the Civic hybrid in India.What is also known is as per present government policies the Hybrid would cost much more than the conventional petrol engine one[Since the Hybrid would be imported into India] plus the fact that unless there is a dramatic change in Government policy,there shall be no incentives in driving environment friendly cars.

In a similar situation,in the Australian market hybrids aren't really doing that well and its only the government being the major patron of the hybrids.In a country like India I doubt the Indian government would be so pro-active with things concerning the environment.Only 4228 hybrid cars were sold last year in australia, representing just 0.7 per cent of the total passenger car market of 637,019.And 2725, or 64.5 per cent, of those were bought by governments and businesses.Private hybrid passenger car sales are up 16.3 per cent to 1503 but from only 1292 in 2006.Hybrids have not yet caught on with the individual buyers in a big way.Also diesel cars are big competition for hybrids.

Only in countries where governments offer substantial subsidies and concessions such as free parking, no tolls and access to transit lanes, regardless of occupancy are hybrids catching up.

As for Honda Australia,they are not to worried,they actually even plan a hybrid for the Jazz which would be a much more cheaper option.Perhaps that is the direction even Honda India should be thinking of taking.

Source:News.com.au