The government is set to change the way car mileage is tested and reported in India. This is expected to bridge the gap between claimed and real-world fuel efficiency figures. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed new rules that will require car makers to test fuel consumption with the air conditioning system both on and off, giving buyers more realistic mileage data.According to a draft notification issued last week, all passenger vehicles falling under the M1 category, including internal combustion engine cars and electric vehicles, manufactured or imported in India on or after October 1, 2026, will have to undergo fuel efficiency testing with the air conditioning system in operation. The testing will be conducted in accordance with AIS-213, the standard that defines procedures for measuring vehicle emissions and fuel consumption when the AC is running.Currently, the official mileage figures of cars in India are calculated with the air conditioning system turned off. This often results in high claimed efficiency numbers that do not match everyday driving conditions, where most users drive with the AC on for a large part of the year. Under the new regulation, manufacturers will be required to disclose two sets of figures (mileage with AC and mileage without AC) in the vehicle user manual and on their official websites.
AIS-213 takes into account the additional load placed on the engine or powertrain by the air conditioning system and measures how this affects fuel consumption and emissions. The new rule will apply equally to all passenger cars, whether they run on petrol, diesel, electricity or other powertrains. For consumers, this change could bring much-needed clarity. A common problem buyers today often face is that the actual fuel economy in daily driving is much lower than the claimed mileage, mainly because the use of AC is not considered in the current testing norms. With traffic congestion, long journeys, rising temperatures and use of ACs becoming common throughout the year in Indian cities, the actual fuel bill is often higher than buyers expect at the time of purchase. By showing mileage figures with and without AC, customers will be able to make better-informed decisions, estimate running costs more accurately, and avoid unpleasant surprises at the fuel pump.
(TagstoTranslate)Fuel efficiency testing India(T)Real-world mileage figures(T)Car mileage testing regulations(T)MORTH fuel consumption regulations(T)Mileage of passenger vehicles with AC(T)AIS-213 emission testing(T)Fuel economy in India(T)Car manufacturer fuel mileage(T)Electric vehicle efficiency testing
