Emission control norms- International & Indian norms.

Emission standards

Emission standards are requirements that set specific limits to the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment. Many emissions standards focus on regulating pollutants released by automobiles (motor cars) and other powered vehicles but they can also regulate emissions from industry, power plants, small equipment such as lawn mowers and diesel generators.

Vehicle emission performance standard: An emission performance standard is a limit that sets thresholds above which a different type of emission control technology might be needed.

In the United States, emissions standards are managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The state of California has special dispensation to promulgate more stringent vehicle emissions standards, and other states may choose to follow either the national or California standards

European Emission Standards

•European emission standards define the acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new vehicles sold in EU member states.

•Currently, emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), total hydrocarbon (THC), non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) are regulated for most vehicle types, including cars, lorries, trains, tractors and similar machinery,  but excluding seagoing ships and aeroplanes.

For each vehicle type, different standards apply. Compliance is determined by running the engine at a standardized test cycle. Non-compliant vehicles cannot be sold in the EU, but new standards do not apply to vehicles already on the roads. No use of specific technologies is mandated to meet the standards, though available technology is considered when setting the standards. New models introduced must meet current or planned standards

      •The stages are typically referred to as Euro 1, Euro 2, Euro 3, Euro 4 and Euro 5 for Light Duty Vehicle standards. The corresponding series of standards for Heavy Duty Vehicles use Roman, rather than Arabic numerals (Euro I, Euro II, etc.) The following is a summary list of the standards, when they come into force, what they apply to, and which EU directives provide the definition of the standard.

       •Euro 1 (1993):
–For passenger cars - 91/441/EEC.
–Also for passenger cars and light trucks - 93/59/EEC.
•Euro 2 (1996) for passenger cars - 94/12/EC (& 96/69/EC)
–For motorcycle - 2002/51/EC (row A) - 2006/120/EC
•Euro 3 (2000) for any vehicle - 98/69/EC
–For motorcycle - 2002/51/EC (row B) - 2006/120/EC
•Euro 4 (2005) for any vehicle - 98/69/EC (& 2002/80/EC)
•Euro 5 (2008/9) and Euro 6 (2014) for light passenger and commercial vehicles - 715/2007/EC

Bharat Stage Emission Standards

Bharat stage emission standards are emission standards instituted by the Government of India to regulate the output of air pollutants from internal combustion engine equipment, including motor vehicles. The standards and the timeline for implementation are set by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Ministry of Environment & Forests

History

•The first emission norms were introduced in India in 1991 for petrol and 1992 for diesel vehicles. These were followed by making the Catalytic converter mandatory for petrol vehicles and the introduction of unleaded petrol in the market.

•On April 29, 1999 the Supreme Court of India ruled that all vehicles in India have to meet Euro I or India 2000 norms by June 1, 1999 and Euro II will be mandatory in the NCR  by April 2000. Car makers were not prepared for this transition and in a subsequent judgment the implementation date for Euro II was not enforced...

•In 2002, the Indian government accepted the report submitted by the Mashelkar committee. The committee proposed a road map for the roll out of Euro based emission norms for India. It also recommended a phased implementation of future norms with the regulations being implemented in major cities first and extended to the rest of the country after a few years.

•Based on the recommendations of the committee, the National Auto Fuel policy was announced officially in 2003. The roadmap for implementation of the Bharat Stage norms were laid out till 2010. The policy also created guidelines for auto fuels, reduction of pollution from older vehicles and R&D for air quality data creation and health administration

•The standards, based on European regulations were first introduced in 2000. Progressively stringent norms have been rolled out since then. All new vehicles manufactured after the implementation of the norms have to be compliant with the regulations. Since October 2010, Bharat stage III norms have been enforced across the country. In 13 major cities, Bharat stage IV emission norms are in place since April 2010.

•The phasing out of 2 stroke engine for two wheelers, the stoppage of production of Maruti 800 & introduction of electronic controls have been due to the regulations related to vehicular emissions.

•While the norms help in bringing down pollution levels, it invariably results in increased vehicle cost due to the improved technology & higher fuel prices. However, this increase in private cost is offset by savings in health costs for the public, as there is lesser amount of disease causing particulate matter and pollution in the air.

Overview of the Emission Norms in India

       •1991 - Idle CO Limits for Gasoline Vehicles and Free Acceleration Smoke for Diesel Vehicles, Mass Emission Norms for Gasoline Vehicles.
•1992 - Mass Emission Norms for Diesel Vehicles.
•1996 - Revision of Mass Emission Norms for Gasoline and Diesel Vehicles, mandatory fitment of Catalytic Converter for Cars in Metros on Unleaded Gasoline.
•1998 - Cold Start Norms Introduced.
•2000 - India 2000 (Equivalent to Euro I) Norms, Modified IDC (Indian Driving Cycle), Bharat Stage II Norms for Delhi.
•2001 - Bharat Stage II (Equivalent to Euro II) Norms for All Metros, Emission Norms for CNG & LPG Vehicles.
•2003 - Bharat Stage II (Equivalent to Euro II) Norms for 13 major cities.
•2005 - From 1 April Bharat Stage III (Equivalent to Euro III) Norms for 13 major cities.
2010 - Bharat Stage III Emission Norms for 4-wheelers for entire country whereas Bharat Stage - IV (Equivalent to Euro IV) for 13 major cities.