The big question: Kitna deti hai?

H. Kishie Singh

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Some years ago,  when Volvo launched their latest offering in India, the company’s CEO presided over the function.

The Master of Ceremonies introduced him, saying that he spoke Swedish, English, German and French. Having spent two years in the Middle East, he learnt Arabic. Now that he is here in India, he has picked up a little Hindi.

“Namaste!” the CEO said and added: “Kitna deti hai?” An arousing applause greeted him.

Other than having won the hearts and minds, Volvo had scored a bull’s eye with the auto-buying Indian and connected where it matters most — the wallet! “Kitna deti hai?” is the first question asked at a car launch press conference. If the car is a petrol-engine super sports car worth Rs 2 crore, the first question would be, “Diesel mein aati hai?”

That’s India. Every auto manufacturer has modified the vehicles to suit Indian demands and conditions. Or so they claim. The most important criteria for an Indian buyer is fuel efficiency. The manufacturer works hard to earn the most fuel efficient label for his car. Nothing else matters.

Fuel efficiency depends on the driver. Two drivers driving the same car will get different fuel consumption figures. 

In an attempt to improve on fuel efficiency, manufacturers have provided a tachometer or RPM counter. It is as large as the speedometer on the dash board. That emphasises the importance of the RPM of your engine. 

Matching engine RPM with speed will give you the best fuel average. Everyone should know this and follow it.

Help is at hand. It is called ‘kmpl GURU’.  It is a simple chart that claims to convert your speedometer into an ‘ECHOSPEEDOMETER’. Following these instructions can save up to 10 to 20 per cent fuel. I have seen it work and you could achieve this too with sensible and controlled driving.

The kmpl GURU is a sticker to paste on to the speedometer. It tells you at what speed and in which gear you should be driving. The speedometer needle is your indicator.

In the accompanying chart, the speedometer needle is at 64 kmph. The fuel efficiency shown is just over 29 kmpl and you should be in fourth gear. If your speedometer needle moves up to 70 kmph, the fuel efficiency drops to 26 kmpl.

 At 90 kmph, you will get 18 kmpl! A drop of 11 kilometre per litre!

Another sure move to save fuel: Switch off the engine while at a red light. It will save fuel and save the environment. This has to be a self-imposed discipline and a serious concern about the environment and bills for imported fuel. 

Some months ago, I was at the railway station waiting to collect my daughter. It was a balmy, cloudy, cool evening. I lowered my window. On my right three cars were parked. All of them had the engines idling. What we don’t know is that while the car pollutes as it runs, it’s worse while idling. It vomits noxious and poisonous carbon dioxide in huge quantities. A parking lot is the worst scenario, be it the railway station or a shopping area where the engine is kept idling to keep the AC working.

If you have any love for your country, the environment, the planet, please follow these simple rules. You can make a difference single handedly. Getting into a warm car won’t kill you. Wasting fuel and polluting the planet will.

Happy April Fools’ Day and Happy Motoring!