RDE Norms And BS6 Phase 2 Described – See Details
When the strict BS6 standards went into effect in April 2020, the car industry, particularly the passenger vehicle market, saw many adjustments. Many automakers were forced to abandon diesel engines in favour of gasoline, compressed natural gas, or even the EV market. After two years, in April 2023, the sector will enter the next level of emission standards in the form of new BS6 requirements, known as BS6 2.0.
What are RDE, or Real Driving Emission Standards?
To begin, all BS6-compliant cars must be powered by engines that emit less NOx and Particulate Matter (harmful pollutants) than the specified limitations. Automobile manufacturers employ either Lean NOx Trap (LNT) or Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) to accomplish this (SCR). This also guarantees that fuel is used cleanly and efficiently, resulting in fewer levels of pollution in the environment.
What is the distinction between BS6 and BS6 2.0? Simply put, emissions standards will get more strict. While BS6 requires automobiles to be tested in labs, BS6 version 2 will require cars to achieve the mandated emission criteria even when tested in real-world settings. To do this, the engines must be modified and outfitted with an inbuilt self-diagnostic system that will detect variables such as changing driving behaviour and traffic circumstances in real time.
Will diesel engines be phased out in the BS6 2 era?
To be BS6 Stage 2 compliant, diesel engines with larger capacity must utilise SCR, which effectively uses AdBlue (water-based urea solution) as a catalyst to eliminate hazardous pollutants. While several OEMs, such as Mercedes and Hyundai, already have this technology in their vehicles, this update is too expensive for carmakers with models powered by smaller engines. As a result, numerous automakers have discontinued diesel-powered vehicles in the cheap market.
The Honda Amaze diesel was recently terminated, and we expect numerous additional diesel-powered vehicles to be phased out. However, automakers such as Hyundai and Toyota have modified their diesel engines to be RDE-ready as well as E20 fuel compatible.
Cost increase due to new technology
The cost of upgrading older petrol and diesel powertrains for BS6 Stage 2 is significant, resulting in an increase in ex-showroom pricing. This increase in production costs will be passed on to the end user. Recent instances are the 2023 Hyundai Creta and Hyundai Venue, both of which are BS6 2-ready and currently command premiums of up to Rs 45,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively.
Expect automakers to introduce new BS6 2 cars or discontinue some models from their lineup in the future. The BS6 Stage 2 automobiles would most likely cost between Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000 extra, depending on body design and engine capacity.
