Norms of BS6 In Two Wheeler Industry

Bharat Stage Emission Standards is the governing body that is responsible for regulating the pollution output emitted by the vehicles plying on Indian roads.

The Bharat Stage Emission Standards introduced the first emission norms in the year 2000. Following this, the BS2 and BS3 norms were introduced in the years 2005 and 2010, respectively. Finally, in the year 2017, the government introduced the BS4 emission norms, which were followed until recently.

The BS 6 norms are the sixth iteration of the emission norms and are a substantial leap from the BS4 norms when it comes to reducing pollution. This is also because, to improve the emission norms, the BS5 has been skipped.

The BS6 pollution norms are an advanced emission standard that is tantamount to the EURO 6 norms that are followed in most European countries. To curb the rising pollution, the Indian Government has directed to phase out all BS4 vehicles after 1 April 2020, and exclusively provide BS6 bikes and cars in India. The BS6 full form in bike is Bharat Stage 6, and it means that only those vehicles that are BS6 compliant can be sold and registered in India.

The transition from the BS4 to the BS 6 norms for 2-wheelers in India required vehicle manufacturers to alter a few parts of the two-wheelers to comply with the norms. To begin with, vehicle manufacturers changed the calibration and the combustion of the engine. They also improved the fuel injection and the cylinder pressures following the NOx and PM treatment solutions. Once the vehicle manufacturers accomplished this, it helped reduce carbon emissions, and while this translated to less powered engines, the vehicles are more fuel efficient. This comes as a bonus, as every two-wheeler owner is concerned with the soaring fuel prices.

With the introduction of this change, however, vehicle manufacturers were forced to stop using affordable carburettors and replaced them with expensive fuel injectors. This has caused the two-wheeler prices to increase by 10-15%. For the vehicle manufacturers, these inflated prices directly translated to a reduction in the sales graph. This is because the buyers waited until the BS 6 norms came into effect. This spill-over was also experienced in terms of increased premiums for the insurance policy for a bike. However, it is a good thing that the price of third-party bike insurance is capped by the government, otherwise, this would have added to the maintenance costs of owning a two-wheeler.

Additionally, manufacturers had to ensure the BS6 vehicle pollution certificate for new vehicles meaning they had to suffer huge losses for vehicles with BS4 engines, especially those vehicles with BS4 engines that could not be sold before the deadline.
Observably, the auto industry quickly caught pace and journeyed towards the BS6 norms. This helped the auto industry recover from the losses as individuals started to invest in BS6 bikes and cars. To check whether their vehicles are compliant, individuals got them checked at their nearest emission testing centre and got the BS6 vehicle pollution certificate. after checking their vehicle.

Both BS4 and BS6 pollution norms define a maximum permissible pollutant level that can be emitted by a car or a two-wheeler exhaust. The difference lies in how stringent the pollutant limits are. Compared to the BS4 norms, the BS6 norms are stricter. Although vehicle manufacturers are using this change to enhance the features and safety standards of vehicles, the primary change came from more stringent emission norms.

This change is not restricted to emission levels but also impacts the dispensing of fuel. This means that from the onset of 1 April 2020, as the BS6 norms set in, the petrol pumps will have to dispense BS6 fuel. However, BS4 vehicle owners need not worry because BS6 fuel can also be used in BS4 vehicles.

The only change for BS4 vehicles will come with lubrication, as sulphur plays an important role in lubricating the engine. Since the permissible amount of sulphur in BS6 fuel has been lowered, the BS4 vehicles will require certain lubricating agents to ensure smooth running vehicles.

While most don’t like to think of the unpleasant, there is no denying that you still need to be prepared for it. With a comprehensive insurance policy for bikes, individuals can secure themselves against unforeseeable scenarios. The two-wheeler insurance policy by Tata AIG offers well-rounded protection against situations such as theft, damages due to accidents, third-party liabilities, and more.

Moreover, with the advent of the internet, individuals can buy 2-wheeler insurance online from the comfort of their homes. There are several benefits of buying 2-wheeler insurance online such as the ease of comparing different policies, lower premiums payable, etc. This helps individuals make an informed decision about investing in the best insurance policy for bike based on their specific requirements.

While the transition to the BS6 norms created certain adaptive challenges, they have been introduced to benefit us in the long run. There was a need to introduce the right rules and regulations to limit its damage to the environment as well as to the health of individuals.