What’s there in the new BS-7 emission Norm? Different from BS6

Table of Content

• Nitin Gadkari's statement on BS-7 Norms
• European Commission on BS-7 Emission Norms
• Euro 7 Emission Standards: Advancing Automotive Sustainability

Nitin Gadkari, the Union's minister of road transport, has urged all automakers to begin developing the BS-7-compliant vehicles of the next generation in order to reduce pollution and offer a cleaner environment for people.

He also challenged the car industry to introduce automobiles that meet the Euro-7 pollution criteria without waiting for any government mandates or timelines.

Nitin Gadkari's statement on BS-7 Norms

Gadkari remarked that the Indian automakers should immediately begin their own research and focus on producing automobiles in accordance with BS-7 regulations while speaking about the same at the meeting of the highest technical committee on vehicle standards (CMVR-TSC). 

He emphasised that this time, the industry must take the lead independently. They ought to act swiftly in response to government deadlines, as was done during the BS-6 transition. Nitin Gadkari stated that the Indian car industry ought to develop similarly to its European rivals.

Anil Chhikara, the deputy transport commissioner for Delhi, claimed that everyone was surprised by the abrupt unveiling of the BS-7 plan. However, Chhikara continued, local automakers must continue to pursue the transition as they did in the past if they are to expand their export business and manufacture cleaner vehicles in European countries.

Leading automakers including Toyota and Honda, according to some reports, have reportedly already begun developing a strategy to reduce vehicle emissions.

European Commission on BS-7 Emission Norms

The transport minister's decision comes days after the European Commission announced that it would begin applying Euro-7 pollution standards for new vehicles and vans from July 2025. The same will be adopted for brand-new vehicles and buses later, in 2027.

The Indian auto sector would also need to follow the switch from the current BS-6 to BS-7 in order to export their products to European countries and minimise local vehicular pollution.

Euro 7 Emission Standards: Advancing Automotive Sustainability

7 Key Points of the Euro 7 Standards Proposal:

1. Consolidation of Emission Rules: 

The Euro 7 standards replace and simplify separate emission rules for cars, vans (Euro 6), and lorries, buses (Euro VI), bringing all motor vehicles under a single set of regulations.

2. Extended Compliance Period: 

Vehicles will need to comply with the rules for a longer duration. Compliance checks for cars and vans will be conducted until they reach 200,000 kilometres and 10 years of age, doubling the existing requirements of Euro 6/VI (100,000 kilometres and 5 years of age). Similar extensions will apply to buses and lorries.

3. Broader On-Road Emissions Testing: 

The new rules encompass a wider range of driving conditions to better reflect real-world scenarios across Europe. This includes extreme temperatures of up to 45°C and short trips typically encountered during daily commutes.

4. Stricter Pollutant Emission Limits: 

Limits for pollutant emissions will be tightened for lorries and buses. The lowest existing limits for cars and vans will now apply regardless of the fuel type used. Additionally, the rules introduce emission limits for previously unregulated pollutants, such as nitrous oxide emissions from heavy-duty vehicles.

5. Regulation of Brake and Tyre Emissions: 

Euro 7 standards go beyond exhaust pipe emissions and set additional limits for particulate emissions from brakes and microplastic emissions from tyres. These rules apply to all vehicles, including electric ones.

6. Leveraging Digital Capabilities: 

The Euro 7 rules utilize vehicle sensors to measure emissions throughout the vehicle's lifetime, ensuring that emissions cannot be tampered with. This enables easier emission control and monitoring by authorities.

7. Support for Electric Vehicle Deployment: 

The standards include regulations for the durability of batteries in electric cars and vans, increasing consumer confidence in electric vehicles. This reduces the need for early battery replacements, subsequently reducing the demand for critical raw materials used in battery production.