Stable policy takes hours

“We must admit that the place where India has declined in emission standards is the gap between BS3 and BS4. The gap was originally 4 years, but it was actually 7 years, and BS4 came out in 2017. This is the mission. Dr. Goenka continued.

Dr. Ravi Damodaran, chief technology officer of commercial engine manufacturer Greaves Cotton, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing systemic failures. We only have 3-4 years. “Therefore, players should be allowed to make policy adjustments in advance for at least 7-8 years. “Therefore, the automotive industry is looking for emissions prospects for at least the next 5-10 years.

First, the government can begin to consider the next logical step in the regulatory ladder-Bharat (Phase 7). Adaptation,” said Krishnan Sundararajan, MD. Renault Nissan Indian technology and business center.

Chief Commercial Officer Gaurav Gupta emphasized the urgency of establishing a stable policy structure. MG Motor India, He said: “We must be clear about what we are looking for, so that all OEMs can work backwards and prepare accordingly. This is something we are all working hard on. Frankly speaking, time is running out. This is our role as an OEM. The number one challenge is to speak up.

The benefits of having a long-term perspective

The hasty implementation of emission standards may be detrimental to the industry and customers, as exemplified by the BS6 regulations. “We rely heavily on the mature technologies of the West, but the use of these technologies is actually destructive for India. After BS6, the price has risen so much that we have reduced the volume, and some OEMs have even stopped selling certain products. Some models. It did have an impact on the entire industry, and we didn’t see it in the early emission standard changes,” said Dr. Damodaran of Greaves Cotton.

He continued: “This is mainly because considering our short time, none of us are ready to use mature technologies suitable for achieving these emissions in India, and we (exhaust) must almost entirely rely on existing technologies outside of India. After treatment or for engine management systems. This is where we will face challenges again in the next emission standard.”

Experts believe that it will take at least 4-5 years for technical research, development and testing of any major changes in emission regulations. Therefore, if a roadmap to 2030 is formulated in advance, automakers can begin to study local solutions. “We don’t want to use European solutions because they have to pay a European (high) price. Therefore, if we have time, we can plan to develop smart solutions that meet our requirements.” Auto parts supplier Tenneco (Tenneco) Naresh Phansalkar, Global Director of Clean Air CTOH (Commercial Truck and Off-Highway) Engineering explains.

P Kaniappan, general manager of parts supplier Wabco India, said: “Indians’ thrifty thinking ability and our ability to innovate and manufacture products in a more cost-effective manner will really help us provide the (best) solution here. Program.”

There are other factors to consider when making long-term plans. You must beware of the economy. (Evaluate) practical methods and formulate specifications accordingly. Said R Velusamy, Mahindra’s global product development director.

Focusing on multiple powertrain technologies may cause problems

Although the vast majority of vehicles on Indian roads today are purely based on internal combustion engines (IC), the share of electrification is expected to increase in the next few years. Commenting on the Indian passenger vehicle (PV) sector, Sanjeev Saxena, President of Schaeffler’s Indian Automotive Division, said: “By 2025, hybrid vehicles (currently almost zero) will rise to 5% of the entire PV market. ), to It can reach up to 30% in 2030.” Electric vehicles account for a small portion of the current automotive market (approximately 0.22% in fiscal 2021) and are expected to grow. “We believe that by 2025, the electrification rate will be about 3%, and by 2030 about 10%.”

However, Saxena added: “India will be the last country to see long-term use of IC engines.”

In addition to manufacturers focusing on hybrid and electric vehicles to achieve emission targets, The government is also promoting the development of alternative solutions, such as flex-fuel engines And CNG. However, the order to adopt multiple technologies may put pressure on automakers and make them thinner. “In addition to gasoline and diesel, if you also focus on synthetic fuels, multiple fuels, then it will increase the complexity of vehicle development,” Mahindra’s Velusamy said.

Therefore, regulatory agencies should be largely independent of technology and only set long-term emissions targets. Dr. Damodaran exclaimed: “Policy changes should not worry about which technology we are going to introduce. I think the free market should decide this according to this policy.”

In order to promote the adoption of more sustainable technologies by automakers, the government can also levy taxes based on product emission levels. “I can see the benefits of a CO2-based tax system. Current taxes, especially excise taxes, are calculated based on the length of the vehicle and the engine displacement. Based on our contribution to a clean environment, this will definitely help incentivize Customers benefit from the system if they choose cleaner cars and heavy-duty vehicles with less carbon dioxide emissions,” said Martin Schwenk, general manager and CEO of the company Mercedes Benz India.

and The Indian automotive industry may have all been set to BS6 Phase 2 specifications Starting from 2022-23, it is still worried about the future. Therefore, the government must issue a comprehensive long-term policy as soon as possible to ensure the sustainable growth of the industry.

See also:

Nitin Gadkari: Electric car prices will be comparable to gasoline-diesel counterparts in the next two years

SMEV: Cumulative sales of electric vehicles in fiscal 2021 will drop by 19.41%