India’s mobility transition must be multi-fuel, multi-path to balance growth, sustainability, says SIAM

India’s mobility transition cannot rely on a single technology or fuel pathway and must instead follow a multi-fuel, multi-powertrain approach to balance rising energy demand, sustainability, and energy security, according to P K Banerjee, executive director, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).Speaking on the sidelines at India Energy Week 2026 in Goa, Banerjee said that mobility has evolved from being a purely automotive issue into a broader energy systems challenge, as India’s economic growth and sustainability goals increasingly intersect.“As India’s energy needs rise manifold, multi-path, multi-fuel and multi-powertrain solutions are the only viable way forward for a sustainable future,” Banerjee said, adding that India’s development trajectory requires addressing both growth and environmental challenges simultaneously.He said that the government’s push to raise the share of gas in transportation to 15 per cent, alongside the rollout of E20 ethanol blending, the expansion of CNG and LNG, electrification and future hydrogen adoption, clearly signals a diversified energy strategy.

Electrification is essential to address air pollution challenges, while hydrogen is expected to play a long-term role as a zero-tailpipe-emission fuel, he added.

“Every geography and use case has a unique requirement. That is why a comprehensive 360-degree evaluation of policy interventions is essential,” he said, citing the need for focused action on older vehicles in high-pollution urban centres.

On internal combustion engines, Banerjee said that they will continue to play a role, particularly in Tier-2 cities and rural areas. He called for interventions such as vehicle health testing infrastructure and scrappage or cash-for-clunkers schemes that are acceptable to consumers without disrupting the system.