BS-6 and Electric Vehicles – Round About

By Likith Ganesh

This article is to understand the significance of the need of implementation of BS-6 Bharat
Stage Emission Standards thus reducing the air pollution caused by smoke emission from
petrol and diesel vehicles and need to switch for electric vehicles which is called future
source for transportation.

Of the most polluted cities in the world, 22 out of 30 were in India in 2018. As per a study
based on 2016 data, at least 140 million people in India breathe air that is 10 times or more
over the WHO safe limit and 13 of the world's 20 cities with the highest annual levels of air
pollution are in India. The 27% of pollution is caused by the automobile vehicles. Air
pollution contributes to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year.

India's automobile sector accounts for about 18% of the total CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)
emissions in the country which is main source of air pollution. As number of vehicles has
risen in India, the CO2 pollution is causing severe damage to ecosystem causing health
problem in many peoples.

Presently, all vehicles need to undergo a periodic emission check (once in 6 months) at PUC
Centers, which are authorized to check the vehicles. The objective of reducing pollution not
achieved to a large extent by the present system. Some reasons for this are:

— Independent centers do not follow rigorous procedures due to inadequate training

— Equipment not subjected to periodic calibration by independent authority
— Lack of professionalism and malpractice
— Tracking system of vehicles failing to meet norms non-existent

With all the constraints, the Government of India has decided to make all vehicles to
compulsory move to BS-6 emission norms which will significantly reduce the air pollution
making our environment clean and safe.

Electric Vehicles (EV’s)

An electric vehicle is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using
energy stored in electric source such as rechargeable batteries, solar panels or an electric
generator. The first practical electric cars were produced in the 1880s. Electric cars were
popular in the late 19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion
engines which is used today. EVs are currently very well used in rail network across the
world. In India, 65% of trains use Electric locomotive engines. Now EVs are becoming
popular in cars, buses, surface and underwater vessels, electric aircraft and electric spacecraft.

Many countries now have set goals to ban the sales of petrol and diesel vehicles in the future.
Government of India has told that, by 2030 they will stop all petrol and diesel vehicles.

As of now only two companies make electric cars. They are Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., which
has Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Inc which has Tesla Model S.

In India, Mahindra Reva and eVerito are only electric cars available. Many companies have
launched electric scooters in India where the popular is Ather 450. Bajaj and TVS will roll
out the scooters in coming days.

The running cost in Electric cars are less comparable internal combustion engine cars due to
the lower cost of maintenance and energy, but cost more to buy new. Indian government
gives subsidy to buy the electric vehicles.

Electric cars significantly reduce the local air pollution, as they do not directly emit pollutants
such as CO2 or sulphur. Electric motors are more efficient than internal combustion engines
in converting stored energy into driving energy. However, they are not equally efficient at all
speeds. For this, cars usually come with dual electric motors one electric motor with a gear
optimized for city speeds and the second electric motor with a gear optimized for highway
speeds thus increasing the cost of vehicles.

Some electric vehicles include small gasoline engines to extend their range in an emergency.
These are considered a type of hybrid vehicle.

To conclude, use of more and more electric vehicles and BS-6 norm fuel vehicles will reduce
the air pollution and create the green path for the future of human kind. These vehicles will
reduce the health issues among the human beings and make life sustainable for all creatures
of planet earth.