Wednesday, June 5, 2019

PROBLEMS WITH DIESEL VEHICLES … GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

EDITORIAL DISCUSSION – 30thApril, 2019

1. Downbeat diesel – THE HINDU – 29thApril, 2019

The problem with diesel

– THE INDIAN EXPRESS – 29th April, 2019



PROBLEMS WITH DIESEL VEHICLES … GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

1. Diesel emissions pose hidden hazards. The harmful fine and ultra-fine particles that they contain penetrate deep into the blood stream.

2. Vehicle exhausts adds to the ground-level ozone formed from nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons combining in the presence of sunlight, seriously harming respiratory health.

3. In Europe, the sale of diesel cars have fallen substantially in recent times.

4. The diesel emissions scandal with cheat devices involving Volkswagen dismayed many consumers.

5. In fact, Paris, Madrid and Athens  announced prohibition on diesel vehicles by 2025, London made it more expensive for older vehicles to enter the city.

The focus should be on encouraging walking, cycling and using public transport.

PROBABLE REASONS FOR MARUTI SUZUKI DECISION

REASON NO. 1 REDUCTION IN PRICE DIFFERENCE

1. Reduction in the price difference between petrol and diesel.

2. There was at one point of time a gap of Rs. 25 per litre between diesel and petrol and now, the price difference is around Rs. 7 per litre.

3. Gradually petrol and diesel became market driven.

In 2012-13, diesel cars accounted for 47% of the passenger vehicle sales. Now, they account for just around 20% of overall passenger vehicle sales in 2018-19. This is less than half the share in comparison to five years ago.





REASON NO. 2 LEAPFROGGING TO BS VI … ADDITIONAL COSTS

1. New emission norms will come into effect on April 1, 2020.

2. It entails higher costs to upgrade diesel engines to meet the new BS VI emission norms.

3. The difference in the price of a petrol and a diesel car is on an average Rs. 1 lakh now. It may go up to Rs. 2.5 lakh.

4. Moreover, in the wake of Volkswagen emissions scandal, it is becoming uncertain, if the customers would like to buy diesel cars. 

HISTORY OF BHARAT STAGE NORMS

1. These are to regulate the output of air pollutants from IC engines, including motor vehicles.

2. India introduced emission norms first in 1991 and tightened in 1996.

3. Based on landmark Supreme Court order of April 1999, Centre notified BS I and BS II norms, broadly equal to Euro I and Euro II respectively. 

4. Subsequently, BS III and BS IV norms came into existence. Now BS-IV norms are implemented across the Country. 

5. The Country decided to skip BS V and to switch over to BS VI from April 1, 2020.

To shift entire Country from BS III to BS IV, it took seven years. The timeline now is less and skipping BS V and making diesel cars compatible for BS-VI entails additional costs.

SWITCHING OVER TO BS VI … PROBLEM IS WITH DIESEL VEHICLES

CHANGES IN THE PETROL VEHICLES CHANGES IN THE DIESEL VEHICLES

These are limited to catalysts and electronic control upgrades.

These are more complicated. They have to look at three aspects

Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)

Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system

Lean NOx Trap (LNT)

Now, the entire cost is to be borne in one go. Hence, it entails higher costs in one go.

DIESEL ENGINES … MAJOR CHANGES REQUIRED!

TO TACKLE NITROGEN OXIDES

TO TACKLE PARTICULATE MATTER

It involves Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), which is an advanced active emissions control technology.

SCR converts nitrogen oxides to nitrogen, water, tiny amounts of CO2 by pumping in automotive grade liquid urea, which is known as Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).

It achieves NOx reductions up to 90%. Tailpipe Particulate Matter filter is used.

This reduces the Particulate Matter coming out of the vehicle to the required level.

















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