Skipping BS-V Fuel Norms Poses Safety Risks: SIAM

SIAM believes the risk of putting an inadequately validated technology on the Indian roads will lead to safety issues in vehicles like un-intended acceleration or fires.

By NDTV Auto Team

1 mins read

Published on June 16, 2015

Highlights

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has advised that changing emission norms directly to Bharat Stage(BS) VI emission norms, skipping BS V, could lead to considerable safety issues in vehicles. SIAM believes the danger of cramming the timeframe is "the risk of putting an inadequately validated technology on the Indian roads, which will lead to safety issues in vehicles like un-intended acceleration or fires" if the process is not adequately tested. One must understand that though the BS V and BS VI fuels are primarily the same, the relevant technologies are vastly different. It is meant to be sequentially developed, tested and validated with each stage taking about 4 - 4.5 years. Vikram Kirloskar, President, SIAM, said, "Vehicles have to operate as a complete system and emission technologies have a close linkage with safety as well as fuel efficiency parameters both of which are covered by other mandatory regulations of government." Currently, 33 Indian cities follow BS IV norms for cars, while the rest are on BS III. According to the national auto fuel policy, BS-IV standards are to be adopted across the country by 2017 and BS V by 2020. BS VI was to be introduced in 2024. However, word has it that the government is contemplating fast-tracking the implementation of BS-VI by skipping the BS V stage. SIAM believes in case of incidents, the liabilities on the industry will be huge - which is an unacceptable proposition. Kirloskar further added, "There is no room for shortcuts and knee-jerk reactions where safety is concerned." Also Read: Why India Needs Stricter Norms for Controlling Pollution (With inputs from PTI)