Workshop
India liquid fuels & vehicle technologies
The transportation sector is an important source of air pollution in terms of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and greenhouse gases emissions. Many of these emissions undergo further reactions in the atmosphere, which increases ground level ozone (O3) and smog levels. The resulting effects of increased air pollution on human and environmental health are substantial.
To mitigate the air pollution impact of vehicles, the Auto Fuel Policy of 2003 laid down a roadmap for vehicular emission and fuel quality standards. This roadmap on vehicular emission standards and fuel quality has been largely implemented. Starting year 2010, Bharat IV standards have been implemented in 13 major cities, while Bharat III standards are in effect in the rest of the country. This first phase of emission reductions from vehicular sources represents a great deal of progress.
Although some progress has been made, air quality in many urban areas continues to be worse than the national ambient air quality standards. As a result of rapid economic growth, the sales of motor vehicles in India have nearly tripled between 2001 and 2010. During the fiscal year 2010-11 the sales of new vehicles rose by 26%, compared to the previous year and double-digit sales growth is expected across the board in 2011-2012. Continued growth in vehicle population will negate the air-quality gains of the past decade in the absence of further policy action.
Thus, further efforts are necessary to reduce the impact of transport vehicles on air quality. From the point of view of vehicle emission standards and fuel quality, there is still a time lag between the European and Indian schedules. The time gap between standards for two- and three-wheelers in India and the European Union is currently three years; while for four-wheelers and heavy-duty vehicles the time gap varies, with major metropolitan areas in India about five years behind the latest Euro standards and the rest of the country almost a decade back.
Harmonizing emissions standards nationwide and moving to standards that use the best available emission control technologies would enable India to catch up to advanced countries and yield significant environmental and public health benefits.
The next phase of the auto fuel policy in India will therefore have to decide a roadmap for implementation of Bharat V and VI standards similar to those implemented in Europe and elsewhere in the world.
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) together with The Energy & Resources Institute of India (TERI) organized a workshop on ‘Cleaner liquid fuels and improved vehicular technologies, on May 31, 2011. The objective was to take forward the process of developing a roadmap for moving towards cleaner liquid fuels in the transport sector. The workshop focused on the need for one country, one vehicle, one fuel and an appropriate policy considering the impacts on human health.
Presentations from the workshop:
Inaugural session
Dr. R K Pachauri, Director-General, TERI
Dr. Alan Lloyd, President, ICCT
Shri B K Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission, Govt. of India
Vote of Thanks – Dr. Arabinda Mishra, Director, TERI
Session 1. Fuel Quality: Current Scenario and Pathway to Ultra-low sulfur fuels
Clean Auto Fuels: Policy initiatives, Shri L N Gupta, Joint Secretary (Refinery), MoPNG.
Transport Sector: Improved Fuel Quality- Indian Perspective and Future Strategies, Shri Rakesh Hooda, TERI.
The Costs and Benefits of Controlling Motor Vehicle Emissions in India, Dr. Michael P. Walsh, Chairman, ICCT : Background presentation
Technological & Infrastructural Requirements for Cleaner Liquid Fuels, Dr. R K Malhotra, Director (Research & Development), IOCL : Technological & Infrastructural requirements for future.
Pathway to Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel – Role of oil companies, Dr. N. V. Choudary, General Manager (Process Technologies), HPCL : Role of oil companies.
Session 2. Vehicle technology: Current and future technologies
Improved Vehicular Technologies for Compliance of Stringent Emission Norms, Shri P K Banerjee, Head – Homologation & Product Evaluation Department, Tata Motors Ltd.
Cleaner liquid fuels and improved vehicular technologies, Dr Arun Jaura, Vice President-Technology, Eaton Technologies Pvt. Ltd.: Response of vehicles on technological and fuel quality improvements for heavy vehicles
Vehicle Technology Improvements: Current and Future, Dr. Anup Bandivadekar, Passenger Vehicles Program Lead, ICCT : Sharing the international experience
Session 3. Concluding panel discussion
Cleaner Liquid fuels: Way forward, Shri K.K. Gandhi, Executive Director (Technical), SIAM
