Gadkari accuses carmakers of behind-the-scenes lobbying on CAFE-3 fuel efficiency norms

NEW DELHI: Taking a dig at carmakers lobbying for the next phase of fuel efficiency norms, CAFE-3, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said they have been trying behind the scenes to influence policy and don’t get exposed like political leaders. He also indicated some parity in norms for flex-fuel hybrid cars with EVs. Speaking at the Indian Federation of Green Energy’s Green Transport Conclave, Gadkari said, "The file (on CAFE-3) will come to me in the next 15 days. I don’t want to say what has happened. There have been controversies. In politics, we get exposed because we are 100% open. Industries don’t get exposed as they campaign behind." Meanwhile, TOI has learnt that the auto industry body, SIAM, has written to power secretary Pankaj Agarwal seeking an increase in derogation or supercredit of four for EVs, three for range extended electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and 1.5 for flex-fuel Vehicles. Carmakers have also urged the government to allow carry over the credit points for meeting the emission and energy efficiency targets of the first three years to the next block of two years. CAFE-3, which will be effective for five years, proposes pooling of compliance across manufacturers and carry-forward of credits within blocks — three years initially and then two years. Any surplus credits will lapse at the end of each block. So far, carmakers have officially maintained that they are aligned with the latest version of the government’s proposal of CAFE-3.