CSB #7 - Clean Fuel Isn't Always "Clean"

Auto Rickshaws in India

Researchers at the University of British Columbia studying New Delhi's 2003 conversion to "clean fuel"

for over 90,000 different buses, taxis, and auto rickshaws found that the results did not significantly decrease emission levels. "Clean fuel" is basically compressed natural gas. Canadian researchers examined a group of 5,000 auto rickshaws with two-stroke engines. The data they gathered indicated that the conversion to natural gas produced only minor reduction in air pollution emissions. Instead, overall it led to an increase in other emissions that carry an extremely negative influence upon climate change. The two-stroke engine would cause one third of the natural gas to be burned improperly, which would in turn produce methane. Methane is not simply a major greenhouse gas, but is currently the most prominent source of climate change and the destruction of the ozone layer. After further research, it was discovered that if the New Delhi government had simply upgraded the two-stroke engines to more efficient four-stroke engines instead, they would have achieved immense decreases in emission levels, at a much cheaper price. Conor Reynolds, lead author and a UBC post doctoral fellow said that, "Despite switching to CNG [compressed natural gas], two-stroke engine auto-rickshaws in Delhi still produce similar levels of particulate matter per kilogram of fuel to a diesel bus - and their climate impacts are worse than before. I believe the situation the article illustrates that thorough research should be done prior to hastily implementing a solution, which in the end is more harmful to the environment. Millions of rupees were wasted on a project that had a more efficient solution at a cheaper price, reflecting poorly on India's attempts to meet global environmental standards. However, I think it's good that global research was conducted on this conversion, as not only does it raise awareness of the issue in the scientific world, but also opened the Indian government's eyes to the mistake they made, and hopefully pressure them into correcting it at a national scale. In addition, I think other rapidly industrializing cities across Asia should be careful not to follow in New Delhi's footsteps as they attempt to maintain an environmentally beneficial mentality. 

Citations:

Image: http://outdia.com/images/Auto_rickshaw_web.jpg

Article: "Study: 'Clean fuel' not always successful." Science Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 8 May 2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin=UPI-1-20110301-174114-bc-canada-cleanfuelstudy&SingleRecord=True>.