As we all know, the BS-VI standards went into force on April 1, 2020, in order to minimise vehicular emissions and the contribution of automobiles to air pollution. The government will shortly introduce a new set of BS-VI rules in 2023, which is the second stage of the BS requirements, in order to significantly cut automotive emissions. Let us first define Bharat Stage Emission Standards before diving into what these standards are and what modifications would be required (BSES).
What exactly is BSES?
The Bharat Stage Emission Regulations, or BSES, are emission standards established by the Indian government to regulate the output of air pollutants from combustion engines in automobiles. The BSES regulations are governed by the Central Pollution Control Board, which is part of the Ministry of Environment. The standards establish the maximum or allowable amount of air pollutants that cars can produce. The automobiles are not allowed to be sold in India if they do not match the emission criteria.
In India, the first emission standards for gasoline and diesel automobiles were implemented in 1991 and 1992, respectively.India, on the other hand, began to embrace European pollution control rules, and BSES was adopted in India in 2000 under the name "India 2000." Since then, the standards have been increasingly strict. The following table shows the evolution of India's four-wheeler emission standards:
India bypassed the Euro 5 standards and went straight to theBS-VI standards. The dates of implementation for two and three-wheelers varies slightly from those for four-wheelers, and they are listed here.
What is the significance of BSES?
It's crucial to remember that motor vehicles are responsible for a significant quantity of air pollution, and if this trend continues, pollution levels will continue to rise. Carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are all toxic byproducts of internal combustion engines (ICE) (NOx). Diesel and direct-injection engines create carbon soot, often known as particulate matter (PM). If these criteria are not monitored, dangerous emissions may result in long-term environmental damage. This is why the BSES rules are modified on a regular basis to keep pollution levels under control.
What exactly is BS-VI?
The BS-VI standards were adopted statewide on April 1, 2020, to replace the BS-IV standards that had been in existence since 2017. For the first time, a rule was imposed for the emission of Particulate Matter (PM) for direct-injection petrol engines under the BS-VI guidelines, which intended to lower NOx levels by 25% for petrol engines. For diesel-powered engines, the BS-VI standards are more stricter. For diesel, the upper limit for hydrocarbon emissions was cut by 43%, the upper limit for NOx levels was reduced by 68 percent, and a whopping 82 percent reduction in PM was imposed. The BS-VI emission standards are listed here, along with how they change from the prior BS-IV requirements.
Average Corporate Fuel Economy (CAFE)
The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards are designed to reduce vehicle fuel usage while also lowering CO2 emissions. The CAFE laws were implemented in India in 2017 and apply to vehicles that run on gasoline, diesel, LPG, or CNG. Every vehicle manufacturer's sales-volume weighted average is referred to as the corporate average. By 2022, the average company CO2 emission must be less than 130 gm/km, according to existing CAFE standards. To put it another way, by 2022, the vehicles must be 10% more fuel efficient.
While manufacturers continue to endeavour to satisfy CAFE standards, the government has stated that the CAFE II standards will take effect in April 2022. The average company CO2 output must be less than 113 gm/km, according to CAFE II requirements.
The main difference between BS-VI and CAFE standards is that BS-VI standards focus on lowering toxic exhaust by-products, whilst CAFE standards focus entirely on reducing CO2 emissions.
Stage 2 of the BS-VI
On April 1, 2023, the government has previously informed us that the BS-VI stage 2 rules would be adopted countrywide. Experts believe that the actual implementation of the BS-VI criteria will begin in April 2022, with the adoption of the CAFE II legislation.
With the implementation of the second stage of BS-VI, vehicles will be required to meet actual driving emission requirements rather than just laboratory tests. Vehicles must be equipped with OBD2 (On-Board Diagnostics) as a standard feature to make this possible. The onboard self-diagnostic system (OBD) is the vehicle's self-diagnostic system. If there is a problem with the car, the engine malfunction indicator activates under this modern, electronically controlled system. The catalytic converter, oxygen sensors, and engine misfires will all be monitored by the OBD2 system. If any aberration is discovered in the above criteria, the warning lights will illuminate, signalling that the vehicle should be inspected. In other words, emission monitoring will be even more rigorous than any prior BSES standard.
The BS-VI Stage 2 standards are aimed at reducing emissions and increasing fuel efficiency. A lot of adjustments in the vehicles will be required to achieve this. For example, petrol engines will require programmed fuel injection, which regulates the amount and timing of gasoline pumped into the engine. Sensors in the car will monitor numerous factors such as the throttle and crankshaft positions, air intake pressure and temperature, engine temperature, and the contents of the exhaust emissions to ensure optimal use. Some larger petrol engines may use hybrid systems to minimise fuel consumption, albeit this may greatly raise the cost. The focus of BS-VI stage 2 appears to be on improving fuel efficiency, which will result in lower emissions.
To achieve the CAFE II and BS-VI Stage 2 standards, the auto industry is preparing to create programmed fuel injection technology. Technology advancements, as well as new hardware and software, will raise car manufacturing prices, raising purchase costs as well. On the plus side, these standards are designed to reduce pollution and emissions, which will benefit the environment and our overall well-being.
