Editing Auto rickshaw (section)

== Fuel efficiency and pollution ==
In July 1998, the [[Supreme Court of India]] ordered the government of Delhi to implement CNG or [[Liquefied petroleum gas|LPG]] ([[Autogas]]) [[fuel]] for all autos and for the entire bus fleet in and around the city. Delhi's air quality has improved with the switch to CNG. Initially, auto rickshaw drivers in Delhi had to wait in long queues for CNG refueling, but the situation improved following an increase in the number of CNG stations. Gradually, many state governments passed similar laws, thus shifting to CNG or LPG vehicles in most large cities to improve air quality and reduce pollution. Certain local governments are pushing for [[four-stroke engine]]s instead of two-stroke ones. Typical [[fuel economy in automobiles|mileage]] for an Indian-made auto rickshaw is around {{convert|35|km/L}} of petrol. Pakistan has passed a similar law prohibiting auto rickshaws in certain areas. CNG auto rickshaws have started to appear in huge numbers in many Pakistani cities.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

In January 2007 the Sri Lankan government also banned two-stroke trishaws to reduce air pollution. In the Philippines<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.engr.colostate.edu/news/print/index.cfm?id=402 | title=Envirofit's Tricycle Retrofit Program Funded | access-date=2011-03-22 | date=19 May 2006 | publisher=Colorado State University | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929002935/http://www.engr.colostate.edu/news/print/index.cfm?id=402 | archive-date=29 September 2011}}</ref> there are projects to convert carbureted two-stroke engines to direct-injected via [[Envirofit International#Two-stroke engine direct injection retrofit|Envirofit]] technology. Research has shown LPG or CNG gas direct-injection can be retrofitted to existing engines, in similar fashion to the Envirofit system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skyshorz.com/university/publications/Gitano_SAESETC2007_LPG2T.pdf |title=Microsoft Word{{Snd}} SETC_LPG2T.doc |access-date=2010-04-03}}</ref> In [[Vigan City]] majority of tricycles-for-hire as of 2008 are powered by motorcycles with four-stroke engines, as tricycles with two-stroke motorcycles are prevented from receiving operating permits. Direct injection is standard equipment on new machines in India.<ref>{{cite news |date=2007-12-09 |title=Bajaj rolls out low-emission fuel-efficient autorickshaw |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-corporate/article1676981.ece |newspaper=Business Line |publisher=The Hindu |access-date=2010-04-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/05/bajaj_begins_pr.html |title=Bajaj Begins Production of 2-Stroke Direct-Injection Auto Rickshaw |publisher=Green Car Congress |date=2007-05-18 |access-date=2010-04-03}}</ref>

In March 2009 an international consortium coordinated by the [[International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies]] initiated a two-year public-private partnership of local and international stakeholders aiming at operating a fleet of 15 hydrogen-fueled three-wheeled vehicles in New Delhi's [[Pragati Maidan]] complex.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unido-ichet.org/index.php?lang=en&option=com_content&Itemid=&view=article&id=363%3Aa-fleet-of-hydrogen-rickshaws-to-circulate-in-new-delhi-by-2010 |title=A fleet of hydrogen rickshaws to circulate in New Delhi by 2010 |access-date=2011-03-22 |publisher=International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728144846/http://www.unido-ichet.org/index.php?lang=en&option=com_content&Itemid=&view=article&id=363%3Aa-fleet-of-hydrogen-rickshaws-to-circulate-in-new-delhi-by-2010 |archive-date=2011-07-28  }}</ref> As of January 2011, the project was nearing completion.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

[[Hydrogen internal combustion engine|Hydrogen internal combustion]] (HICV) use in three-wheelers has only recently being started to be looked into, mainly by developing countries, to decrease local pollution at an affordable cost.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/818298/file/818329|title=Hydrogen-Fueled Internal Combustion Engines, see page 7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fischer-tropsch.org/DOE/DOE_reports/42060/42060-FNL.pdf|title=Clean Hydrogen Technology for 3-Wheel Transportation in India}}</ref> At some point, [[Bajaj Auto]] made a HICV auto rickshaw together with the company "[[Energy Conversion Devices]]".<ref name="thecityfix.com">{{cite web |url=https://thecityfix.com/blog/india-showcases-hydrogen-fuel-auto-rickshaws/ |title=India Showcases Hydrogen Fuel Auto-Rickshaws {{pipe}} |date=21 February 2012}}</ref> They made a report on it called "Clean Hydrogen Technology for 3-Wheel Transportation in India" and it stated that the performance was comparable with CNG autos. In 2012, Mahindra & Mahindra showcased their first HICV auto rickshaw, called the Mahindra HyAlfa.<ref name="thecityfix.com"/> The development of the hydrogen-powered rickshaw happened with support from the [[International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies]].