“BS-VI fuel will bring down sulphur level by 80 percent from current BSIV levels.” — Dharmendra Pradhan, Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister
India has decided to proactively advance the roll-out of BS-VI fuel in Delhi from April 2018, instead of April 2020 after taking stock of the alarming pollution situation in Delhi each winter. Given CNG already meets that requirement, there is likely to be a strong impetus for acquiring natural gas vehicles.
The Minister explained at the launch in Delhi last week that BS-VI fuel will bring down sulphur by 5 times from the current BS-IV levels – this is an 80 percent reduction which makes it extremely clean. It will improve emissions from the existing fleet, even from the older vehicles on road. BS-VI is as clean as CNG, Pradhan said at the launch. It is anticipated these new standards will increase the costs of trucks and buses running on petrol and diesel, improving the comparative cost efficiency of CNG.
According to a Centre for Science & Environment study, air pollution takes 10,000-30,000 lives in Delhi every year. We believe that early migration to BS-VI fuels in the National Capital of Delhi will help in saving thousands of precious lives by bringing down vehicular pollution significantly. BS VI regulation imposes a 10 ppm limit on sulfur content of gasoline and diesel fuels. Compared with petroleum-based fuels, CNG emits 90% less particulate matter.
However, to take full advantage of the availability of such superior fuels, the vehicle technology has to move to BS-VI. Imploring automotive companies to embrace the challenge of making complaint vehicles available wherever BS-VI fuel is sold, the Minister said introduction of BS VI fuel will only give partial benefits if BS VI compliant vehicles are not put on the road. CNG vehicle manufacturers in India include Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra and Mahindra, Hyundai India, Isuzu and Honda.
Source: Adapted from a Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas press release.
