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1991
1999
2000
onwards
Petroleum ministry had setup Saumitra Chaudhuri Committee for Auto fuel
vision policy 2025
2003
2005
2010
Dec 2012
Euro norms define the maximum limit of pollutant that a vehicle can emit. (CO2,
nitrogen oxide, sulfur and suspended particulate matter)
In India, we follow Euro norms under the label Bharat stage norms. we are gradually
implementing them in more and more cities
higher stage means less emission (just for reference, exact numbers not important for exam)
Euro normBharat Stage
limit of RSPM*
India implements from
I (1)
0.14
2000: nation wide
II (2)
0.08
2005: nation wide
III (3)
0.05
2010: nation wide
IV (4)
V (5)
2010:
2011: 7 cities
0.025
0.005
VI (6)
0.0025
To reduce emission from vehicle, weve to fit catalytic converter, particulate filter, &
other fancy devices in its exhaustion system.
But the chemical catalysts in such devices get immobilized in presence of lead/sulphur.
Therefore, fuel should have minimal quantity of lead and sulfur. Else, youll have to
replace those fancy devices too often.
Lead: we are already selling lead-free petrol. Since year 2000 only lead free petrol sold
in India.
year
present (BS3)
2017 (BS4)
2020 (BS5)
To Oil refineries
You produce fuel with less sulfur,
olefin & other impurities.
(especially for Bharat stage 5)
Problem because refiners have to
buy machines and technology
worth Rs.~80,000 crore.
Government can arrange cash for refineries, by imposing 75 Paise special fuel
upgradation cess on Petrol and Diesel. (says Sumitra Committee)
Previously, recall Famous lawyer Harish Salve reported to supreme court and asked for
30% cess on private diesel vehicles. and that money should be used for implementing
Bharat stage 5 and 6.
States VAT should be reduced on CNG sale (to promote CNG vehicles)
It is the lowest temperature at which a fuel starts turning into vapor (which will later
ignite)
Flash point of diesel is set at 35 degree C. (under both BS3 and BS4.)
Some journalist argue that 35 degree is too dangerous. Because in India, temperature
often above 40 degree celcius (Even EU has flash point limit 55 C, despite having cold
climate.)
Sumitra rejects this hypothesis, because even tropical countries like Brazil and Argentina
have lower flash points. The temperature in and around the engine of the vehicle is well
over 100 C much above the highest flash point prescribed anywhere in the world.
Hence 35 degree flash point doesnt automatically mean explosion.
These are unsaturated alkanes. We need to reduce their quantity in fuel, to reduce
pollution.
It is a measure of diesel quality. Lower the cetane number, diesel will produce
more smoke.
Alternative Fuels
Overall, Saumitra report is three things
1. Bharat norms: implementing next stage
2. taxation issues
3. Alternative fuels- for reducing petrol and diesel consumption. Here, he give pros and
cons of each alternative.
#1: Methanol
Good points
Bad points
Mrunal notes: Additional pros, cons and facts can be gathered for each alternative fuel via
google books, Britannica etc. but then article will become 5 miles long and will take another five
days to finish. And yet there is no guarantee that itll have sufficient facts to solve a possible
UPSC MCQ! Therefore, Ive confined myself only to the facts mentioned in Saumitra report,
nothing beyond that. But youre free to dig through all angles.
#2: Ethanol
is an organic solvent
Ethanol itself burns cleaner and burns more completely than petrol.
National biofuel policy. Now oil companies required to blend atleast 5% ethanol
with petrol.
But project mostly #EPICFAIL. Most companies not blending more than 2%
ethanol, because ethanol not easily available at reasonable price.
2008
Started in mid-70s
Their car-engines designed such way, they use even upto 18% ethanol blending. (Exact
figures not important but for MCQ the examiner may twist statement saying car engine
cannot run properly if ethanol blending more than 10%then you should know it is an
incorrect statement.)
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)s Green Initiatives for Future Transport
(GIFT)
Against
In some countries, LPG is called Auto-Gas and used in taxis e.g. Korea, Turkey,
Russia, Poland and Italy.
Good points
bad points
So there is no cost-advantage to
make public shift from petrol cars
to LPG cars.
Both USA and China planning to add 1-5 million new HEV vehicles by 2020.
India should also work on this. More details in old article click me
1. BEE (Bureau of energy efficiency) labels on vehicles to show their fuel efficiency.
2. We need to replace the existing PUC system to a more reliable computerized system.
3. We need to link vehicle insurance with pollution. (i.e. higher pollution vehicle should be
ordered to pay higher premium for same coverage)
4. Give subsidy, tax-benefit to vehicle owners to retrofit their engines with newly emission
control devices
5. Impose higher taxes on old vehicles, because they emit more gases.
6. More tax on diesel guzzling SUV cars.
7. Less tax on hybrid cars, CNG vehicles.
8. Use chemical markers to detect adulteration of diesel/petrol with kerosene. Make oil
companies responsible for fuel quality at their station.
Mock Questions:
Correct statements
Q1. Petroleum ministry had setup Saumitra Chaudhari Committee for ___.
c. Only 1 and 3
d. None of them
Q8. Consider following statements
1. CNG is not a safe fuel because contains traces of carcinogens such as Benzene in vapor
form.
2. In the whole world, North America has highest number of Hydrogen refilling stations
3. Pure hydrogen fuel burns with blue flame hence provides highest amount of energy per
kg, than any other fuel.
Incorrect statements are
a. Only 1 and 2
b. Only 2 and 3
c. Only 1 and 3
d. None of them
Mains
General Studies Mains paper 3 Syllabus topic: Environmental Pollution.
1. Write a note on the salient recommendations of Saumitra Chaudhary Committee on auto
fuels (200 words).
2. What is Indias Hydrogen Vision 2020? (100 words)
3. What are alternative fuels? Why is it impractical to adopt most of them in India? (200
words).
4. What is Bharat Stage emission standards? Discuss the challenges in their implementation.
(200 words).
5. To minimize vehicular pollution, Bharat norms alone are not sufficient. Comment. (200
words).
Correct answers
1. C-auto fuel vision policy
2. D neither correct. Because Both Euro and Bharat norms are same. And higher stage
means less pollution.
3. C-Bharat Stage 3 or higher
4. C both reasons correct
5. B only 2 and 3 correct.
6. A- 1 and 2 wrong. Olefin causes more pollution. Higher cetane is better quality.
7. A- 1 and 2 wrong. Methanol itself can cause blindness even in minute quantity, how can
you treat glaucoma with it! Second statement is also wrong.
8. C- 1 and 3 wrong. CNG doesnt have benzene and hydrogen flame colorless.
Tags: energy
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VISHAL KUMAR
07.09.2014 at 5:29 am
thanx sir.
2. Reply
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07.09.2014 at 2:38 pm
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