A few years ago people did not have so many options while buying a car. People used to buy either petrol or diesel cars. But the tables have turned. Petrol prices are going beyond limits and no one has respect for diesel cars. Though it’s a bad time for conventional fuels, we have alternative fuel options apart from petrol and diesel. You may choose from CNG, Hybrids and Electric Vehicles too.
Having so many options creates confusion about which car to buy. Here we will see some factors to consider when purchasing a new car.
New Car Decision: Key Factors
When buying a brand-new vehicle, several important factors are to be considered such as Safety standards, Convenient features, Interior comfort, Upfront Cost and Running cost. The most important key point is Running cost, which is why fuel efficiency and emission play an important role in the decision. Let’s look deep into the different fuel options and their relevance:
Diesel
- Diesel cars are known for their great fuel economy and torquey drivability.
Limitations
- Buying a diesel car in the current scenario is nothing short of a danger. And the reason is the strict government rules against it due to its higher emissions. Diesel cars are a headache not just for the people in Delhi-NCR, given that you can drive Diesel cars only for 10 years, but also for other metro cities. These Cars might get banned permanently in the future.
- Diesel cars will be affected by GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan), which is a four-stage emergency plan to fight various stages of pollution. For reference, During GRAP-3 in Delhi, you can’t drive BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel(sold till 2020) cars.
Relevant For whom
- Not for people near Delhi-NCR.
- For commercial drivers and Travel agencies.
Electric vehicles
- EVs are getting more affordable with the reduction in GST on Electric cars from 18% to 5% and for chargers from 12% to 5%.
- Has a very low per Km running cost.
- Low maintenance.
- Have minimal carbon emissions.
Limitations:
- But Electric Vehicles have some practicality issues which will escalate further in India even in 2024. The most prominent problem with the EVs is the Range anxiety, with the charging infrastructure outside major cities not expanding much. The other major drawback of EVs is their upfront cost.
- Battery replacement cost is very high.
Relevant for:
- Commercial fleet owners and Taxi drivers.
- People who need a city car and the upfront cost do not bother.
- People with daily city commuting of more than 50 Km.
CNG
CNG as a fuel is 20-25 bucks cheaper than petrol.
- The government is preparing to put a seal on CNG prices.
- On the same amount of fuel, CNG cars can deliver you 25% more mileage than Petrol.
- Lower upfront cost compared to Electric and Hybrid Vehicles.
Limitations
- Limited availability of boot space due to the presence of a CNG tank.
- Produces 10% less power than the petrol counterparts.
- Limited number of CNG pumps in the Southern and Eastern parts of the country.
Relevant for whom
- Taxi drivers and Commercial fleet owners.
- People with heavy daily commuting especially in non-hilly areas
Hybrids
- New cars have Mild Hybrids, Strong Hybrids and Plug-in Hybrids technologies.
- Extremely Fuel efficient with around 7-10 Km/L advantage over petrol alternatives(for Strong Hybrids).
- It is more powerful than the similar ICE option.
- 25% less emissions than petrol.
Limitations
- Very High Upfront cost
Relevant for whom
- Anyone with a mix of heavy city commuting and seldom highway munching.
Petrol
- A vast number of options are available in every price bracket.
- Lowest upfront cost.
- Newer Turbo and Direct injection technologies have increased fuel efficiency significantly.
- Petrol pumps are available everywhere.
- It has no significant limitations as such.
A Few Car Buying Tips
Before deciding on buying a new car, a few things must be clear in the buyer’s mind.
- Why buy a car?
- How much will you be driving the car?
- Where will you drive the car?
- What type of car?
- What is your budget?
- Check discounts
Conclusion
Buying a new car in India is an emotion. For some people, it can be their source of earning. Making the best purchase can be done by considering some of the factors. A buyer should choose the engine option wisely. If the reason for a car is driving long distances then Diesel becomes the right choice. For taxi owners and high daily commuting, the option of Electric and CNG will be good. Petrol is still the best choice for all needs.
