Bharat Stage VII (BS-VII) Emission Standards

Why in News?

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed the implementation of Bharat Stage VII (BS-VII) emission standards.

• The implementation for passenger cars in the M1 category is scheduled to commence on 1 April 2029.
• The draft introduces enhanced monitoring requirements for real-world emissions, brake particle pollution, tyre abrasion, and electric vehicle battery durability.
• The government has solicited public feedback on the proposed amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

Proposed Emission Standards for Passenger Vehicles

• Additional proposed regulatory requirements include the following:
  • Measurement of smaller particulate matter by reducing the particle-number measurement threshold from 23 nanometers to 10 nanometers.
  • Implementation of controls to reduce evaporative emissions from fuel systems.
  • Conducting emissions testing under real-world driving conditions.
  • Ongoing monitoring of emissions-control system performance throughout the vehicle's operational lifespan.

Major New Features of BS-VII

• Real-world driving emissions (RDE)
• Emissions will be evaluated under real-world driving conditions utilizing portable emission measurement systems.
• The draft regulation stipulates that on-road testing will be incorporated into the type approval process beginning in April 2030.
• The proposed conformity factor for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particle number emissions is set at 1.0.
• On-board Monitoring Requirements – Vehicles must be equipped with systems for the following functions:
  • On-board diagnostics (OBD).
  • Monitoring emissions and detecting instances where specified thresholds are exceeded.
  • Monitoring both fuel consumption and electric energy consumption.
• Ensuring that specified monitoring data are accessible via diagnostic systems and, when required, through over-the-air methods.
• Brake Particle Emissions – Braking systems emit particles as friction materials degrade. The Bharat Stage VII (BS-VII) standards propose regulation of this non-exhaust pollution source.

• Tyre Abrasion
• Tyres generate particulate matter during interaction with road surfaces.
• The draft regulation introduces abrasion requirements for C1 tyres, effective from April 2031.
• Specific numerical limits will be communicated in a separate notification.
• Durability of Electric Vehicle Batteries – The following minimum benchmarks for battery performance are proposed:

• The applicable threshold is evaluated based on either the specified time or distance limit, whichever is reached first.
• Detailed test procedures and requirements will be communicated separately.
• Environmental Vehicle Passport – The proposed passport is designed to provide comprehensive information on the following aspects:
  • Fuel consumption metrics.
  • Electric energy consumption data.
  • Battery state-of-health indicators.
  • Pollutant emission levels.
• The primary objective is to enhance access to vehicle performance and environmental impact information.

Vehicles and Fuels Covered

• The proposed framework encompasses multiple powertrain configurations and fuel types, including the following:
  • Petrol and diesel.
  • Compressed natural gas (CNG).
  • LPG.
  • Ethanol blends, including E20.
  • Hydrogen.
  • Methanol.
  • Hybrid vehicles.
  • Electric vehicles, with respect to relevant energy consumption, battery specifications, and non-exhaust emission requirements.
• The draft further introduces provisions for the approval of geofencing-equipped petrol and diesel vehicles as BS-VII-G vehicles.

Reference

The Hindu | BS IV