BS6 Phase 2- A New Beginning after the COVID-19 pandemic

BS6 Phase 2

BS6 Phase 2: After implementation of BS6 in 2020, a second round of emission norms is slated to follow in quick succession, with CAFE 2 in 2022 and RDE the year after.

BS6 Phase 2: To begin with, all BS6-compliant vehicles are required to be run on engines with lower NOx and Particulate Matter (harmful pollutants) emissions which are within the prescribed limits. To achieve this, automakers use either Lean NOx Trap (LNT) or Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR). This also ensures a clean and efficient way of burning fuel with lower levels of pollutants in the environment. 

Now, what is the difference between BS6 and BS6 2.0? Well, to put it simply, the emissions norms will become more stringent. While BS6 required cars to be tested in labs, BS6 version 2 will need cars to meet the prescribed emission norms even in real-world conditions, while also when being tested in laboratories. To implement this, the engines will have to be upgraded and installed with an onboard self-diagnostic device that will monitor factors like changing driving behaviour and traffic conditions in real time. BS6 Phase 2

New Tech, added cost– BS6 Phase 2

The cost of upgradation of existing petrol and diesel powertrains for BS6 Stage 2 is high, which would also result in the escalation of the ex-showroom prices. This increase in manufacturing cost will eventually be passed on to the end buyer. The 2023 Hyundai Creta and Hyundai Venue are recent examples which are BS6 2-ready and now demand a premium of up to Rs 45,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively.
Going forward, expect carmakers to roll out new BS6 2 models or discontinue select models from their portfolio. The BS6 Stage 2 cars are likely to cost Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 more, depending upon the body style and engine capacity.BS6 Phase 2

Having made the challenging transition to BS6 in April 2020, the Indian auto sector is now looking at the next tranche of emission norms that is set to come into effect from 2022-23. Despite the tight deadline, carmakers believe that they will be able to meet the target on time. “Technically, we can do that,” said Krishnan Sundararajan, MD, Renault Nissan Tech and Business Center India, at a recent virtual conclave organized by our sister publication Autocar Professional on ‘Meeting Emission Challenges’. He added, “For BS6 Phase 2, our reaction is not as bad as it was for BS6.

  • Petrol engines to require programmed fuel injection
  • Hybrids and EVs crucial to meeting CAFE norms   
  • With new emission regulations from 2022, passenger vehicles prices set to rise

The next round of regulations will kick off with the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE 2) rules in April 2022 that will lower the permissible average CO2 levels of any carmaker’s fleet from the current 130g/km to 113g/km. The following year, Real Driving Emissions (RDE) norms will require cars to achieve emission targets even in real world conditions, as opposed to just a laboratory environment. This second phase of BS6 (or BS6.2), then, is set to make the emission limits a lot harder to scale for automakers than before.

Meeting BS6 Phase 2

Explaining the strategies to achieve the more stringent targets, Sundararajan said, “Moving from BS6.1 to BS6.2, we have a very good understanding that the technologies applied in Europe can’t be copy-pasted here. So, we have to adapt. We have taken enough time for this adaptation and we are trying to solve the problems going towards 2023.”

He continued, “We know that the areas which we have to tackle are PGM (programmed fuel injection), which is related to hardware, and (upgraded) semiconductors, which is related to software.”
For reference, programmed fuel injection controls the timing and amount of fuel injected in petrol engines, based on the input of sensors monitoring various parameters such as the throttle and crankshaft positions, engine temperature, intake temperature and pressure, oxygen content in the exhaust and so on.
“All our energy and effort is now on optimising PGM and figuring out how we are going to operate at scale, in terms of all the technologies that we want to put in BS6.2. We are working on how the cost can be managed with different innovations in PGM optimisation, like expanding the technology to more types of cars,” said Sundararajan. BS6 Phase 2
Since more stringent regulations are already in place in Europe, luxury carmakers are all set for BS6.2. “With the introduction of new engines, which we had done around 2019-20, all our cars globally are compliant with Euro 6d standards. This helps us be ready for the (BS6) Phase 2 norms already today,” said Martin Schwenk, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India.
However, the tighter CO2 targets are set to have a significant impact on IC (internal combustion) engines as we know them today. “Meeting the (new) CAFE requirements will obviously require us to have alternate powertrains, whether it is electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrids or something else. But it is very clear that simply the IC engine will not be enough to meet the CAFE requirements of 2022,” said Dr Pawan Goenka, the former MD and CEO of Mahindra and Mahindra. BS6 Phase 2

Impact of BS6 is Rising Price for Two-wheelers

According to the rules of the central government, these days, manufacturers can only deal with BS6 phase 2 bikes. They have introduced some changes in the engine so that it will emit less-lethal gases. These manufacturers can’t use cheap carburetors rather they need to use expensive fuel engines for the engines of their bikes. As a result, the price of the two-wheelers has increased by 10-15 per cent.
Due to the introduction of new BS6 norms, the price of two-wheelers has increased by 10-15 per cent. The sale graph is also reduced due to this increasing price. This made a sharp rise in two wheeler insurance premiums and braking systems. It is compulsory for every two-wheeler owner to possess third-party insurance to safeguard themselves from untoward events like accidents, etc.

A New Beginning after the COVID-19 pandemic.

During this COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many people discarded public transport and opted for their own vehicles. Some even purchased new vehicles to ensure their safety. Since two-wheelers are more affordable and can run smoothly on Indian roads, hence people purchased their dream bikes during this pandemic. This inspired bike manufacturers to recover from the losses that they have experienced before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yamaha MT 15 V2.0 updated with BS6 2

Yamaha appears to be readying the MT 15 V2.0 to comply with the upcoming BS6 phase 2 emission norms. A leaked document has revealed details about the OBD 2 compliant MT 15 V2.0. Notably, all new vehicles, including cars and two-wheelers, will have to adhere to more stringent Real Driving Emission (RDE) norms from 1 April, 2023.

BS6 Phase 2 Compliant Yamaha MT 15 V2.0: What Is OBD 2?

According to the leaked document, Yamaha will equip the updated MT 15 with a BS6 OBD stage 2 B device – a second generation of the onboard self-diagnostic device that will monitor real-time emissions of the vehicle. In addition, it will be able to diagnose any malfunction and alert the rider about that via a warning light on the instrument console. It is to be noted that current vehicular emission regulations are based on laboratory test conditions.

BS6 Phase 2 Compliant Yamaha MT 15 V2.0: Features

Apart from the new OBD device, the MT 15 V2.0 is likely to retain its design, mechanicals, and features. However, the updated motorcycle could attract a higher premium over the on-sale model, which costs Rs 1,64,400 (ex-showroom, Delhi). Meanwhile, Yamaha has equipped the current model gets a bi-functional LED headlamp, digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth connectivity, Y-Connect app support, upside down (USD) forks, monoshock, disc brakes at the front and rear, and ABS. 

BS6 Phase 2
BS6 Phase 2