Soon, real driving emission tests to check actual performance on road

DELHI: Home to half of the  world's 20 most polluted cities India is working to introduce real driving emission (RDE) tests for a more accurate emission profile of new vehicles under on-road conditions. New models of vehicles currently go through mandatory laboratory tests, but global analysis has shown that vehicles produced inline with existing standards generate substantially higher emissions on-road than in laboratory conditions, particularly in case of emissions of diesel vehicles.  Real driving emission tests, which will make Indian emission inspection standards among the most stringent in the world, are intended to keep in check vehicular  pollution levels and plug gaps to prevent defaults as seen in the diesel gate scandal involving German automajor Volkswagen.  "In  Europe, real driving tests are being brought in to evaluate NOX emissions. In India, particulate matter emissions are more of a concern. While details are being worked out regarding parameters of these inspections, RDE will come into force from 2020 for purposes of data collection, and permissible limits to determine emission performance of vehicles will become applicable 2024 onwards."  Procedure for off-cycle emissions are being worked out by the ministry of road transport; highways (MoRTH) and the ministry of heavy industries. A senior executive from a leading Japanese auto maker confirmed the development.  To prevent manipulations, while a vehicle is being driven on-road, new rules will specify in measurable parameters the characteristics of the test trips which would include  speed range, elevation gain among other factors. Guidelines will also be laid down to improve supervision of emission control strategy of vehicles to prevent use of defeat devices as seen in case of the diesel-gate scandal involving Volkswagen. The car maker last year admitted to the fitment of 11 million diesel engines worldwide with software which helped in manipulating emission tests.  The roads ministry is also framing norms for in-compliance tests for in-use vehicles of all makes and engine types to further check vulnerability of the country to Volkswagen-like frauds. Currently, India defines regulatory standards (Bharat Stage emission rules) for new vehicles and not in-use ones.  We recommend this video by Venturist VENTURIST MEDIA INC. In-service compliance tests will be conducted randomly on vehicles on the roads to see if they are conforming to Bharat Stage emission standards 2020 onwards.  "Variations are expected in emission levels of vehicles tested from factory floor and those tested onroad. There are no clear norms defining permissible on-road emission levels, which would allow us to know if these variations are nominal or of alarming proportions.  We are working on refining this architecture," said a senior government official.  There can be penalties involved if significant variations are found after factoringin at what stage of its lifecycle the vehicle is and to what extent it has been maintained.  Volkswagen had initiated a recall of 3.23 lakh vehicles in India in December last year after a government-ordered probe showed 5-6 times more emissions from some of the group's diesel-run vehicles, compared with what the company had reported based on trials carried out in laboratory conditions. The company had, however, at the time said its vehicles conformed to BS standards.  Real driving emission tests will become applicable to new models in Europe from September 2017, and for new vehicles from September 2019. Conformity factor of up to 2.1 will be allowed for exceeding NOx emissions limit in the continent.