Government has formally launched Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) grade transportation fuel across the country to keep carbon emission in check.
The launch came days after the Supreme Court banned sale and registration of BS-III vehicles from 1 April, 2017.
It sets target of ushering in BS-VI fuel by April 2020 by skipping BS-V fuel.
All state-run oil marketing companies will provide BS-IV-compliant fuel at their 53,500 retail fuel stations across the country.
BS-IV fuels
BS-IV fuels contain far less sulphur than BS-III fuel. Sulphur in fuel makes it dirtier and lowers the efficiency of catalytic converters, which control emissions.
The BS-IV complaint vehicles release less pollutants Carbon Mono-oxide (CO), Hydrocarbon (HC), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Sulphur (SOx) and particulate matter (PM) compared to BS III complaint vehicles.
About Bharat stage emission standards
BS emission standards are emission standards instituted by the Union Government to regulate output of air pollutants from internal combustion engines and spark ignition engines equipment, including motor vehicles.
The standards and the timeline for implementation are set by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Union Ministry of Environment & Forests and climate change (MoEFCC).
The standards, based on European regulations were first introduced in 2000.
Since then, various stages Bharat Stage compatible fuel and ungraded and modified vehicles were introduced throughout the country.
Each stage specifies a certain limit on the pollutants released, Higher the Bharat Stage goes lesser it emits pollutants. BS-I, BS-II and BS-III stages were launched in 2000, 2005 and 2010 respectively.
The harmful emissions that are identified for regulations in different Bharat Stages (BS) are carbon monoxide (CO), unburnt hydrocarbons (HC), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Particulate matter (PM).
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