Back in September 2016, there was much excitement when the Government of India announced a leapfrog to Bharat Stage (BS) VI emission standards. At the same time, it was clear that it would take much hard work to realize the goal and meet the ambitious April 1, 2020 deadline. India is the first to leapfrog from Euro IV-equivalent emission standards directly to Euro VI-equivalent standards, and there were many doubts and questions: Could refineries produce enough ultralow-sulfur fuel, which is necessary for BS VI vehicles, to supply the entire country? Could Indian automakers make their vehicles BS VI compliant by April 1, 2020? Would consumers be willing to pay for the more expensive BS VI vehicles?
Some considered the leapfrog in fewer than four years to be mission impossible. However, India turned the challenge into an opportunity and completed its mission of producing BS VI-compliant fuel and vehicles on time, Coronavirus notwithstanding. As the country was in lockdown on April 1, 2020, when the BS VI standards went into effect, some might have missed the significance of this major leap forward. What helped bring about this victory?
For one, the necessary ultralow-sulfur fuel is available. One of the crucial features of BS VI fuel is its limit of 10 parts per million (ppm) sulfur content. This is recommended for the operation of modern aftertreatment technologies such as diesel particulate filters, gasoline particulate filters, and selective catalytic reduction systems that are required to meet BS VI emission limits. The National Capital Territory (NCT) started to receive 10 ppm sulfur fuel as early as April 2018. Additionally, several cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) started to switch to 10 ppm fuel at the beginning of 2019, and by October, the entire NCR was supplied with BS VI fuel. According to the chairman of Indian Oil Corp, the firm that supplies roughly half of India’s fuel, almost all refineries in the country started producing the ultralow-sulfur fuel by the end of 2019, to ensure the fuel needed for BS VI was on the market as scheduled. Indeed, ICCT’s recent sampling work found that several cities outside of the NCR had also started to receive 10 ppm sulfur fuels by the end of 2019.
The Indian auto industry has proved its ingenuity, as well. Tata and Mahindra & Mahindra rolled out BS VI-certified models three to four months before April 1, and Maruti Suzuki launched its first BS VI-compliant gasoline vehicle in April 2019, a whole year prior to the deadline. By January 2020, the company had sold more than 500,000 BS VI vehicles. Not only that, but the domestic brands completed BS VI research and development work mostly in-house.
Manufacturers of two- and three-wheelers made similar progress. Ahead of April 2020, Bajaj Auto launched 14 BS VI-compliant three-wheelers and Honda launched three scooters and two motorcycles that are BS VI compliant. The auto industry also ramped down production of BS IV vehicles before the deadline, knowing those vehicles would be mere scrap by April 2020. (However, due to the Coronavirus, the sale of BS IV vehicles will be allowed for 10 days after the current lockdown is lifted.)
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SOURCE: ICCT
