Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan was initially lobbying to do away with BS-V altogether. However this lead to major resistance from manufacturers as they claimed that the transition in engine technology from BS-IV to BS-VI directly was near impossible as each phase of research while designing this newer type of engine would require rigorous testing. A structured plan to phase in both BS-V and BS-VI has therefore been deemed to be the correct path of action.
Despite the resistance expressed by carmakers, oil companies in India are reported to have claimed that BS-VI fuels can be made available by as early as 2020 in the event that BS-V is skipped. BS-VI sulphur emissions are reported to be up to 75% lesser in quantity when compared to BS-V. Commenting on the pushing back of the dates, Road Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari also mentioned that besides implementing stricter engine and fuel regulations, the government was also planning on introducing more electric and hybrid vehicles in India.
As per the new directives, all new cars made post-April, 2019 will have to be BS-V compliant with the even stricter BS-VI regulations set to follow in April 2021. In both cases, existing models will be given an additional grace period of 1 year to comply with the new regulations. An update with regards to the date of implementation of new regulations for 2-wheelers and other vehicles is expected to arrive by mid-December. Currently present in just over 40 cities, BS-IV is expected to cover all of India by 2017.
