Environmental Assessment:

The Nano produces only 101g/km of carbon dioxide emissions (passes the Euro III emissions norms), is as fuel efficient as a Toyota Prius (25 km per liter or 52 mpg - US), is designed to use less materials, and is cheaper than any other car. In every sense it is green or greener than a Prius. All the environmentalists who praised the Prius and curse the Nano need to explain how an efficient car like the Nano is inferior to a Prius.

According to the LA Times, “India’s car industry has ample room to grow by the standards of other nations, with just 14 cars per 1,000 population, according to industry figures. That compares with 28 per 1,000 for neighboring Sri Lanka, 400 to 600 per 1,000 for Europe and Japan, and more than 700 per 1,000 for the United States.”

At 23.6km/l under standard test conditions (which should still translate to approx.18km/l in the real world), the Nano is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the world right now. It uses less material, less parts, and requires less maintenance. It will also create jobs and may possibly make India the global hub for small cars. An interesting study would be a lifecycle energy analysis of the Nano compared to the Prius. The biggest benefit is in the near future when Tata Motors starts putting in their electric technology developed for Indica EV into the eNano. It will be a whole different game--a small, efficient, electric car below $10,000.

Social & Ethical Assessment:

While Americans and Europeans drive around in their gas-guzzling, carbon spewing, V6, V8, and V12 powered pickup trucks, SUVs, luxury sedans and sports cars, they have the audacity to point fingers at a car that is powered by a 0.6-litre engine. At 23.6km/l under standard test conditions (which should still translate to around 18km/l in the real world), the Nano is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the world right now. And its tiny size means that it needs less parking space than the wasteful SUVs and big luxury sedans – which the US and Europe are chock full of right now – the world needs more of the small, efficient cars like the Nano.

As for the "it’s so cheap that too many people will be able to buy it" anxiety, there is no argument there at all. How can anyone possibly suggest that only the rich have the right to buy cars? It’s like saying that only those who can afford to buy mansions should have a roof over their heads and only those who can afford high-end designer labels should be allowed to wear clothes! If anything, it’s bigger cars and SUVs that need to be discouraged – those are the things that are really harming the environment. Should we stop producing cars with big engines that guzzle fuel, put an end to all motor sport, and outlaw all sports cars, super cars, SUVs and pickup trucks – can we do that to save the planet?

Before the West points fingers at India, it first needs to set the example by moving to smaller fuel efficient cars. The Tata Nano and other smaller, fuel-efficient cars are the future of motoring. The Americans and the Europeans need to get out of their big, powerful, fuel-guzzling and carbon-spewing cars and wake up to the new reality. India has set the new standard with the Tata Nano: Rs. 1,00,000 / $2,200, 23.6 km/l / 55.51 mpg, 101 g/km carbon dioxide emissions, 624 cc rear engine, and seats four comfortably. Beat that!