It may be the world’s cheapest car, but is it environmentally friendly? Despite extolling its virtues to the world it seems that Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors, has failed to convince a number of environmentalists.
Tata stated that the vehicles adhere to European emission standards and pump out less carbon dioxide than many motorcycles. He also pointed out that while there are concerns that the Nano could add to the volume of traffic in India, they could actually replace older, dirtier vehicles.
Critics however, are concerned over claims that the Nano will sell more than a million units in the sub-continent. They believe there is little innovation in the Nano’s two-cylinder 623cc engine while the environment is crying out for new technology in the form of electric and fuel cell cars.
According to a recent report, the Nano could increase the Indian car market by 60 per cent prompting fears about chronic congestion even with India expanding its highway system by adding around 60 miles of new road a day.
The Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi reports that more than half of India’s cities suffer from fogs at “critical levels” and there is widespread criticism of state aid for the Nano project when money could instead have been put into improving public transport.
