REQUESTS TO DEFER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CORPORATE AVERAGE FUEL EFFICIENCY (CAFE-2) REGULATIONS AND BS-VI STAGE

REQUESTS  TO DEFER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CORPORATE AVERAGE FUEL EFFICIENCY (CAFE-2) REGULATIONS AND BS-VI STAGE

Context

The auto industry has requested the government to defer the implementation of Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE-2) regulations and BS-VI stage II norms to April 2024.

Details

Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE-2) regulations

• They aim at lowering fuel consumption (or improving fuel efficiency) of vehicles by lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, thus serving the twin purposes of reducing dependence on oil for fuel and controlling pollution.
• Corporate Average refers to the sales-volume weighted average for every auto manufacturer. The norms are applicable for petrol, diesel, LPG and CNG passenger vehicles.
• The CAFÉ standards were first notified in 2017 by the Union Ministry of Power (MoP) under Energy Conservation Act, 2001.
• The regulation is in accordance with the fuel consumption standards of 2015 that aim to increase the fuel efficiency of vehicles road by 35% by 2030.

About Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards

• These are laid down by the government to regulate the output of air pollutants from the internal combustion engine and spark-ignition engine equipment, including motor vehicles.
• As per BS-VI emission norms, petrol vehicles will have to effect a 25% reduction in their NOx, or nitrogen oxide emissions.
• Diesel engines will have to reduce their HC+NOx (hydrocarbon + nitrogen oxides) by 43%, their NOx levels by 68% and particulate matter levels by 82%.