BS7 Emission Norms Explained – What It Means for Cars in India

India is currently preparing for Bharat Stage 7, therefore Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) is a thing of the past. The European Commission recently announced plans to implement the Euro Seven standards, which will require mass-produced cars in accordance with the new regulations starting on July 1, 2025. It hasn’t been formally confirmed, though.

However, BS7 will be based on Euro Seven emission standards, just as BS6 was based on Euro Six emission standards. Let’s know more about it.

Bharat Stage Emission Norms History 

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) introduced India 2000, the first regulation, in 1992, marking the beginning of India’s historical emission regulations. All new cars had to have catalytic converters installed according to this rule.

Following Bharat Stage 2 (BS2) regulations, all cars were required to have the Multi Point Fuel Injection (MPFI) technology installed. The introduction of Bharat stages 3, 4, and 6 occurred in 2010, 2017, and 2020, in that order.

The government of India took seven years to move from BS3 to BS4, and by April 2023, BS6—which prioritizes real-time driving emissions—had been directly adopted. The BS7 standard in India is an adaptation of Euro 7, bringing Indian emission regulations into compliance with European guidelines.

The first modification will be On Board Monitoring (OBM), which will monitor tailpipe emissions in real time by integrating with the current On Board Diagnostics (OBD) systems. Stricter emission standards for serious pollutants like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide will also be implemented by BS7. Nitrogen oxide limitations for diesel and petrol vehicles, for instance, are currently capped at 60 mg/kg under Euro 6. More cars with direct injection and turbochargers will result from this. 

Also Read: Top 5 Upcoming Cars in India 2024

Additional standards to be introduced with BS7

Automobile tires and brakes also contribute to pollution. Microplastics and brake dust, two more dangerous pollutants, are released from tires and brakes when a car is moving. These pollutants will also be controlled and limited once BS7 criteria are implemented.

The lifetime of the batteries in plug-in hybrids and electric cars (EVs) will also be tested, with the battery’s capacity to hold a charge being evaluated across certain distances and times. The vehicle’s lifetime emissions will also be tracked in accordance with BS7 standards.

The pollution levels of an automobile also rise with age. Automobiles that meet the BS7 standards will be fitted with unique sensors that identify particular problems that eventually lead to increased vehicle pollution. 

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Challenges with BS7

It requires a lot of time and money to upgrade any car in accordance with the new mission standard. Car makers will need to invest more in an attempt to ensure compliance with BS7, whose standards will also include more than six strikes. 

Advanced Emission Control System installation will be required of them, and as a result of the higher expenditure, consumers will have to pay extra for these cars. For instance, when the BS6 Phase 2 emission standards were implemented last year, automakers likewise raised the price of their cars. 

Furthermore, many vehicles were withdrawn when BS6 norms were implemented, and in a comparable manner, many of your excellent cars may be discontinued when BS7 norms are implemented. 

Also Read: BS4 vs BS6: Key Differences Explained

When is BS7 going to be introduced in India?

As of right now, India has not received a formal declaration about the adoption of BS7 or a timeline. That being said, the auto industry has been asked to get ready for the BS7 rollout. Certain automakers reportedly have already commenced developing modifications that comply with BS7.

Conclusion 

Although the newer BS7 emission standards are expected to bring up significant operational issues, they will ultimately be a nightmare for stakeholders and a positive move for the environment.

It will be interesting to observe how loosely or quickly industry will adjust once the entire strategy is made public. Automakers are now familiar with these extensive, crucial mandates, however it was not a simple task to align with the BS6 Phase 2 norms. 

FAQs 

What has BS7 changed? 

The government plans to implement the BS-7 emission standards in 2025 and 2026. In comparison to BS-6 Phase-2 regulations, these standards will be more stringent and impose several restrictions on cars, particularly those that run on diesel. These are some of the changes that BS-7 is expected to bring about.

In India, what emission standard is in use right now? 

Government-instituted Bharat Stage, or BS, emission regulations are mandatory for all motor vehicles to meet in order to be sold and operated in India. As of right now, all newly sold and registered automobiles in India have to meet the emission criteria of the BS-VI version.