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Does Diesel Have a Place in The Powertrains of The Future?

Once the villain of India’s pollution story, diesel is making a cautious return to respectability—armed with cleaner tech, stronger regulations, and a heavy dose of real-world pragmatism.

By Shahkar Abidi

09 Apr 2025

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Does Diesel Have a Place in The Powertrains of The Future?

In the dull winter of the mid-1990s, Delhi's air turned from a nuisance to a national emergency. A heavy, pungent haze lay suspended above the capital, smothering the city. As lung-clogging smog became the new normal, a fierce debate erupted in courtrooms, in the media, and in the offices of automakers. The culprit—or at least, the most visible one—was diesel.

A proposal by the Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), an autonomous body, jolted the nation’s automotive industry. It suggested a full ban on diesel-powered private vehicles in the National Capital Region. What it meant in clear language ...

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