The Society of Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has welcomed Government’s decision to move over to Bharat Stage (BS) V emission norms by 2019. However, they have advised against the upgradation to BS VI level by 2021/22 as proposed by the government.
The Society of Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has welcomed the government’s decision to move over to Bharat Stage (BS) V emission norms by 2019. However, they have advised against the upgradation to BS VI level by 2021-22, also proposed by the government.
Vinod Dasari President, SIAM, said, “Upgradation to BS V norms would reduce the pollution levels from the four-wheeler industry by 80% in terms of PM 2.5 for Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCV) and 90% for passenger cars and Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) will be reduced by 60 % and 64% respectively, thereby, making huge contributions to the ambient air quality of Indian cities."
He further added, “We are happy that SIAM’s recommendation to advance the BS V timeline to 2019 has been accepted by the government.”
ALSO READ: Delhi move on singling out cars for pollution unfair; may lead to more ownership: SIAM
SIAM, however, added that for the country to switch over to BS V norms, the requisite 10 parts per million (PPM) sulphur BS V fuel will have to be introduced by the oil companies by 2019 across India before the new technology vehicles are introduced.
In case of unavailability of the requisite fuel, use of BS IV fuel might damage the engine, which will be tuned for BS V fuel, as well as the after-treatment devices fitted in the new vehicle. Also, this might corrupt the new technology benefits and the expected improvements in air quality. If the vehicle and fuel is not compatible, the higher emission norms cannot be met, said Dasari.
ALSO READ: Car sales jump 9.47% in September, expect 6-8% industry growth in FY16: SIAM
With reference to the upgradation to BS VI level by 2021-22 as proposed, Dasari stated that intense discussions have already been held with various Ministries over the last 6 months. SIAM has highlighted the challenges versus the benefits of advancing the BS VI norms from the Auto Fuel Policy (AFP) Committee recommended date of April 2024.
SIAM has also proposed that the BS VI norms can be advanced to 2023 by compressing the technology development time by one year. Any further advancement of BS VI norms will neither be technically possible or advisable due to the extensive testing and validation of the technologies.
Technology providers have already expressed their inability to provide fully validated BS VI solutions for all types and models of four-wheelers before 2023. Introducing technologies without proper validation and testing on the Indian roads will raise questions on several safety issues, such as car fires which can endanger human lives and significant risk that should be avoided at all costs, SIAM said.
Further, BS VI emission norms will not make any significant improvement in the PM 2.5 emissions in cars as there is no change in PM at BS VI level and only incremental 10 % reduction in HCV at BS VI, SIAM has said. Therefore, for the BS VI level, it would be far more appropriate to have a realistic timeline from the safety point.
We are confident that the government will take a holistic view keeping in mind the imperatives of both, emissions as well as safety, before taking a final decision on the subject matter, Dasari added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Representational Image")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}