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    Early BS VI fuel rollout to have little impact: Experts

    Synopsis

    Using a BS VI fuel on BS IV engine would lead to a marginal reduction in emission for petrol vehicles, but the impact is multi-fold on diesel vehicles, an auto expert said.

    ET Bureau
    The central government’s decision to advance introduction of BS VI fuel by two years to address alarming levels of pollution in the capital may only help in marginally lowering particulate emissions.

    Lower sulphur content in BS VI fuel will help in reducing particulate emissions from vehicles to a small extent, auto industry experts held, however, to substantially address environmental concerns BS VI engines have to be mated with BS VI fuel. Soorajith Radhakrishnan, head of powertrain at Continental Automotive Components India said using a BS VI fuel on BS IV engine would lead to a marginal reduction in emission for petrol vehicles, but the impact is multi-fold on diesel vehicles.

    “A back-of-the-envelope calculation said reduction in emission for a BS IV diesel vehicle running on BS VI fuel could be about 3-5%, but that comes with its own set of challenges. Lower sulphur content in fuel could lead to lower lubrication in a diesel engine, which may affect the durability of certain engine components,” added Radhakrishanan.

    On getting BS VI vehicles ready, specifically for Delhi, he asserted that it would be unviable. “Even if a vehicle maker who exports a BS VI vehicle to the overseas market introduces the same vehicle in India, it won’t work, because the BS VI vehicle meant for exports market is not validated on Indian running cycle. Plus the lack of fuel in other parts of the country could limit the travel,” Radhakrishnan explained.

    A senior executive in the R&D division of a Delhi-based carmaker said on condition of anonymity: “The sulphur content in BS VI fuel is lower. So, if BS VI fuel is utilised to operate BS IV vehicles, there will be a marginal reduction in particulate emissions. There has not been any study though to quantify this reduction.”


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