As India gets into Unlock Phase III and the automotive sector looks to exit one of the longest recession spells in history, there remains a need to look at the challenges of air pollution, even as the country and the auto industry has upgraded to BS VI emission norms from April 1, 2020.

In what is a laudable effort, India Auto Inc leapfrogged from BS IV to BS VI in a short span of three years. This was mainly to address the main concern of particulate matter (PM) which crosses into severe category on many occasions. The particulate matter from diesel vehicles to a large extent would be addressed as they have to meet both the PM and particulate number (PN) norms.

However, the share of diesel passenger vehicle is falling due to the reducing price differential between petrol and diesel fuels on one hand and higher cost of diesel vehicles compared to petrol vehicles. 

In view of the predominant share of petrol vehicles including two-wheelers, emission norms for petrol/CNG vehicles need to be further tightened by 2025 to address the issue of nano particles. Further by 2025, there is a need to also look at other parameters as BS VI norms would have been implemented for five years and Europe would most likely have moved to Euro VII.

Stretching the emission envelope
The Centre for Auto Policy & Research (CAPR) is organising a webinar on ‘Bharat Stage VI Emission Norms – 2025 the next tightening?’ on Thursday, August 6, 2020 from 4pm to 5.30pm IST to deliberate and discuss this critical issue. The panel of eminent industry speakers include:

• CV Raman, Senior Executive Director (Engineering)  Maruti Suzuki India
• Dr Adolfo Perujo, Scientific / Technical Project Manager, JRC European Commission, Italy
• Prashant Gargava, Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board, GoI
• Rashmi Urdhwareshe, Former Director, ARAI & President Designate, SAE India
• NR Raje, Former Director, IOCL R&D Centre and former member, EPCA & EAC MOEF.

Hormazd Sorabjee, editor, Autocar India is the moderator for this key industry event, which has Autocar Professional as its media partner. 

Register your attendance at this must-attend industry event:  https://rb.gy/6fnqh1

READ MORE:
BS 6 Special: Part 1 – the background story
BS 6 Special: Part 2 – how BS 6 engines work
BS 6 Special: Part 3 – the engines BS 6 killed
BS 6 Special: Part 4 – BS 6 and two-wheelers