Car Mileage in India to Be Tested With AC Switched On

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in India has proposed a new rule that will require all passenger cars, including petrol, diesel and electric vehicles, to be tested for fuel efficiency with the air-conditioning (AC) system both on and off. This draft regulation is set to take effect from October 1, 2026, under an amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.

At present, carmakers in the country announce mileage figures based on tests carried out with the air-conditioning switched off. In real-world driving, however, most drivers use the AC regularly. This is especially true in India’s hot and humid climate and using the AC often reduces fuel efficiency. The proposed rule aims to close the gap between laboratory test results and actual driving conditions.

Under the draft notification, passenger vehicles in the M1 category manufactured or imported after the rule comes into effect will have to undergo fuel consumption testing as per the AIS-213 standard with the air-conditioning switched on. Carmakers will also be required to publish mileage figures for both AC-on and AC-off conditions in user manuals and on their official websites.

Officials said the move will improve transparency around mileage claims by carmakers and make it easier for consumers to compare vehicles. Since air-conditioning can hugely affect fuel consumption and emissions, testing under both conditions will give buyers a more realistic idea of what mileage they can expect in real-world driving.

Source: The Economic Times