Recycling for a Cleaner Tomorrow: The VVMP Journey to BS-VI Vehicles

The Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernization Program (VVMP) aims to accelerate green growth by introducing more efficient and eco-friendly vehicles on Indian roads. It also seeks to enhance road safety, as defective vehicles contribute to 2.3% of road accidents in India.

The Program’s Objectives

The primary goals of this program include:

• Phasing out old private and commercial vehicles (PVs and CVs)

• Scrapping vehicles that are beyond repair

• Removing BS-IV-compliant vehicles that are highly polluting

It’s important to note that the age of the vehicle isn’t the sole criterion for scrapping under this program. The initiative targets scrapping nearly 1 crore vehicles that lack valid registration and fitness certifications nationwide.

How Does It Contribute to Cleaner Air?

BS-IV-compliant vehicles account for about 33% of air pollution in India. In response, the Supreme Court imposed a nationwide ban on the sale and registration of BS-IV vehicles starting from April 2020. This marked a significant transition from BS-IV to BS-VI emission standards.

Understanding BS Emission Standards

Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards are government-mandated norms regulating the output of air pollutants from motor vehicles. Every vehicle sold in India must adhere to these standards.

India’s BS norms are modelled after the European Emission Standards.

The Purpose of Emission Standards

These standards are designed to monitor and control air pollutants emitted from vehicles and other internal combustion engines.

A Striking Fact

The emissions from 14 new BS-VI trucks, trailers, or buses equal the pollution caused by a single BS-IV vehicle. Similarly, a single pre-BS car releases as many toxins as 11 BS-VI cars combined. The extent of the damage from older vehicles is undeniable.

One key difference between BS-IV and BS-VI standards is the sulfur content in fuel. BS-IV fuels contain 50 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur, whereas BS-VI fuels have just 10 ppm. Alarmingly, India is currently the largest emitter of sulfur dioxide globally.

In addition, BS-VI vehicles can reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 25% in petrol vehicles and 70% in diesel vehicles.

In Conclusion

The scrapping of BS-IV and older vehicles at government-authorized RVSFs is a commendable move. With the introduction of newer, cleaner vehicles on Indian roads, the environment can finally breathe easier!