Auto LPG seeks inclusion in 5-year national permit extension

The Indian Auto LPG Coalition (IAC) has called for Auto LPG-powered commercial vehicles to be included in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ (MoRTH) proposed five-year extension to the prescribed vehicle age limit under the national permit system.

MoRTH’s draft proposal covers battery-operated, hydrogen fuel-based and natural gas-driven commercial vehicles. IAC has sought the same consideration for compliant Auto LPG vehicles, arguing that the framework should assess cleaner-fuel technologies on emissions, safety, affordability, infrastructure readiness and energy security rather than fuel type alone.

According to the coalition, Auto LPG already has an established transport ecosystem, with more than 30 million vehicles and nearly 80,000 refuelling stations globally. In India, it said there are close to 2,500 Auto LPG dispensing outlets alongside an existing vehicle-conversion ecosystem.

IAC seeks Auto LPG inclusion in national permit framework

IAC Director General Suyash Gupta said the proposed five-year extension for electric, hydrogen and natural gas vehicles should also cover Auto LPG-powered vehicles. He said suitable existing petrol vehicles could be converted to Auto LPG, providing an alternative route to reducing emissions while the wider vehicle fleet transitions to newer technologies.

The coalition said the issue is particularly relevant to India’s existing vehicle fleet, which will continue to account for a significant share of road transport as electric and hydrogen vehicles expand. It said converting suitable petrol vehicles to Auto LPG could reduce emissions from vehicles already in operation while allowing compliant vehicles to continue operating under prescribed safety, fitness and emission norms.

Auto LPG positioned as an alternative for existing vehicles

IAC said a multi-fuel approach could address different requirements across India’s vehicle market. While it positioned EVs and hydrogen as longer-term technologies for the transport sector, it said Auto LPG could serve segments where conversion is more feasible than immediate vehicle replacement.

The coalition has called for Auto LPG-powered commercial vehicles to be included before the proposed national permit age-extension amendments are finalised. It also said any extension should remain subject to mandatory fitness, safety, emission and other regulatory requirements, with the benefit limited to vehicles that continue to meet prescribed standards.