The government is set to drive in stricter emission norms for two-wheelers which will make motorcyles and scooters less polluting but costlier by . 1,500-10,000.
New emission norms for twowheelers to be sold in the country from 2015 have been finalised and will be notified shortly, a senior government official told ET. “We have carefully scrutinised the requirements for the Indian market. The Indian emission norms for two-wheelers are unique since we don’t follow the European Union as we do in the case of bigger vehicles like cars, trucks and buses,” said the official, who did not wish to be named.
The new norms are likely to cut down emissions from twowheelers by about a quarter and are expected to make a significant contribution to containing vehicular pollution since two-wheelers account for more than 75% of the country’s automotive market.
Two-wheeler makers will have to go in for engine improvements, after-treatment devices and evaporative emission control to conform to the new norms, experts said. This will lead to an increase of about . 1,500 in the price of the mass market two-wheelers and about . 10,000 in the price of superbikes.
The new norms will take vehicular technologies to the next level, an official said, explaining that besides the regular combustion improvements in engines to make them cleaner and an improvised exhaust catalytic converter, all motorcycle manufacturers will also have to meet a new evaporative emission regulation. Therefore, all two-wheelers will come with a mandatory evaporative emission control unit.
At present, fuel tanks of motorcyles have a small opening that allows flow of the fuel to the engine from the tank. However, when the motorcycle is parked, especially in hot summers, a small amount of petrol evaporates and escapes from the opening. This results in evaporative emissions. Under the new norms, this evaporative loss of fuel from twowheelers in stationary position will be regulated by an evaporative emission control unit. The equipment has been a mandatory requirement in cars since 1996.
A new testing procedure, called Worldwide Harmonised Testing Cycle (WMTC), will also come in force as per the new norms. “Until the last applicable emission norms notified in 2010, we were following our own Indian cycle that was unique and crafted specially for India. Now, we will adopt the global pattern of testing and regulating the emission norms for twowheelers that will take them closer to the global norms followed in Europe and other markets,” the official said.
Emission norms are being gradually made more stringent in the country every five years or so and most companies are prepared for it. Hero MotoCorp, the world’s leading two-wheeler manufacturer, has already started the process of upgrading its products to confirm to the upcoming norms. “Hero MotoCorp has always complied with all applicable emission regulations. The new norms, when notified, will also be complied with well ahead of time,” said a Hero MotoCorp spokesperson.
Experts said manufacturers would be forced to phase out several models as they move ahead to comply with the new norms.
Parameters Determining Emission from Vehicles
• VEHICULAR TECHNOLOGY
• DRIVING CYCLE
• AFTER-TREATMENT DEVICES LIKE CATALYTIC CONVERTER
• FUEL QUALITY
• INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF IN-USE VEHICLES
ROAD AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
New emission norms for twowheelers to be sold in the country from 2015 have been finalised and will be notified shortly, a senior government official told ET. “We have carefully scrutinised the requirements for the Indian market. The Indian emission norms for two-wheelers are unique since we don’t follow the European Union as we do in the case of bigger vehicles like cars, trucks and buses,” said the official, who did not wish to be named.
The new norms are likely to cut down emissions from twowheelers by about a quarter and are expected to make a significant contribution to containing vehicular pollution since two-wheelers account for more than 75% of the country’s automotive market.
Two-wheeler makers will have to go in for engine improvements, after-treatment devices and evaporative emission control to conform to the new norms, experts said. This will lead to an increase of about . 1,500 in the price of the mass market two-wheelers and about . 10,000 in the price of superbikes.
The new norms will take vehicular technologies to the next level, an official said, explaining that besides the regular combustion improvements in engines to make them cleaner and an improvised exhaust catalytic converter, all motorcycle manufacturers will also have to meet a new evaporative emission regulation. Therefore, all two-wheelers will come with a mandatory evaporative emission control unit.
At present, fuel tanks of motorcyles have a small opening that allows flow of the fuel to the engine from the tank. However, when the motorcycle is parked, especially in hot summers, a small amount of petrol evaporates and escapes from the opening. This results in evaporative emissions. Under the new norms, this evaporative loss of fuel from twowheelers in stationary position will be regulated by an evaporative emission control unit. The equipment has been a mandatory requirement in cars since 1996.
A new testing procedure, called Worldwide Harmonised Testing Cycle (WMTC), will also come in force as per the new norms. “Until the last applicable emission norms notified in 2010, we were following our own Indian cycle that was unique and crafted specially for India. Now, we will adopt the global pattern of testing and regulating the emission norms for twowheelers that will take them closer to the global norms followed in Europe and other markets,” the official said.
Emission norms are being gradually made more stringent in the country every five years or so and most companies are prepared for it. Hero MotoCorp, the world’s leading two-wheeler manufacturer, has already started the process of upgrading its products to confirm to the upcoming norms. “Hero MotoCorp has always complied with all applicable emission regulations. The new norms, when notified, will also be complied with well ahead of time,” said a Hero MotoCorp spokesperson.
Experts said manufacturers would be forced to phase out several models as they move ahead to comply with the new norms.
Parameters Determining Emission from Vehicles
• VEHICULAR TECHNOLOGY
• DRIVING CYCLE
• AFTER-TREATMENT DEVICES LIKE CATALYTIC CONVERTER
• FUEL QUALITY
• INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF IN-USE VEHICLES
ROAD AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
