Taxi versus your car

H. Kishie Singh

A decade ago, the question was: diesel or petrol engine car, which to buy? The answer was easy. If you drove in excess of 12,000 km annually, you should go in for a diesel engine car; less than that, petrol engine car.

But things change. The question today is not diesel or petrol. The question is much simpler today: Do I deserve to own a car? Or can I afford to own a car? We are not discussing the financial implications. It is the impact that the Internal Combustion Engine, ICE, has on the planet’s environment. 

If you do not drive 15,000 km a year, there is no justification to own a car. I used the word justification because there are options which outweigh owning a car. It is the new breed of taxis. Efficient, fixed price, super quick and really convenient!

Speaking from experience, Uber and Ola are a great leap forward in the personal and public transport space. 

I make frequent visits to the PGI. What does that mean? Fire up my car, fight traffic, get to the PGI, no parking, wait in line, waste time, pay Rs 20 and then walk half a kilometre to the OPD. I guesstimate this is worth about Rs 250. Or call a taxi, its door to door service for Rs 50. You simply can’t beat that!

The PGI scenario: It has space for 3,500 cars and 2,000 scooters. More than 13,000 cars and 10,000 scooters enter between 7 am and 5 pm. You can make a personal contribution to the traffic mess. Don’t take your car. That means less number of cars — both on the roads and in the parking lots. Faster movement of vehicles on the roads means less fuel being used. India’s crude oil import bill is a staggering figure.

Reasons why you should get rid of your car: An Uber or Ola would cost you about Rs 19 per km. A traditional taxi could charge Rs 80 per km. Your car’s cost is about Rs 22 per km, personally driven. For a chauffer-driven vehicle, double the figure. Plus, your car has collateral expenses standing still — battery and tyres degrade. Depreciation keeps crawling as does insurance. Add to that fuel, servicing and general wear and tear.

Why no personal cars? We are exhausting our fossil fuels at an alarming rate. That’s one reason. Two, cars have been the major contributor in polluting the planet beyond all acceptable levels. Ice caps melting, oceans rising, glaciers receding, drought, global warming... This coming summer should be fun! In short, complete environmental degradation.

Here is an alarming figure: exposure to indoor/outdoor water and air pollution annually kills 9 million people globally. There is another very good reason to use a taxi. The scenario is a typical American suburb, Saturday night. Son asks dad, “Can I have the car this evening?”

“Yes!” says dad and proceeds to give some fatherly advice. “Son, never drive with one hand! Take a taxi and use both!” 

Happy Motoring!