Diesel Emissions Conference 2011, India

by Abhishek Chaliha Posted on 09 Sep 20117210 Views0 Comments


The 2011 Diesel Emissions Conference in India was a structured event that discussed a movement to bring down the pollution levels from diesel vehicles on the road and non-road diesel engines used in various industries. Read on to know more about the proceedings of the conference

The three day Diesel Emissions Conference was an exhaustive event which discussed every aspect of reducing emissions from the diesel internal combustion engine taking into consideration all possible variables influencing the movement. 

The Government of India is planning to reduce air pollution from the transport sector in the country. There are a lot of technical and logistical hurdles which have to be overcome if emissions from diesel engines in this country are to be reduced. 

According to the solutions discussed for reducing emissions the conference can broadly be divided into three sections. One was the introduction of Euro IV engines nationwide. The second was about making Euro IV fuel available nationwide. And the third was about technology that can be integrated into existing engines to make them meet Euro IV pollution norms, thereby reducing emissions from older engines. 

Sophie Punto, Executive Director, CAI-Asia, made a speech by suggesting a Public Private Partnership in the emissions reducing movement. In which case, the Public sector could look after the aspect of making available to the nation Euro IV compliant technology and fuel for new and old vehicles alike. While the Private sector could take care of implementing the movement by adding incentive based schemes for those who would upgrade to lesser emissions technology. The Government can also finance schemes to implement emissions reduction programmes. However, the drawback of the private sector’s profit motive hampering the movement cannot be overlooked.

Under an analysis for further reducing vehicle emissions in India, it was brought to everyone’s attention that before any investment is made to the infrastructure of the transport sector various aspects have to be rectified first. Those aspects include limited and poor road network which increases fuel consumption and maintenance costs of vehicles. Unless the road network is improved fuel consumption will continue to remain abnormally high, no matter what emissions control technology is implemented. Travelling at a constant moderate speed will reduce fuel consumption rather than having bad roads and speed breakers which has resulted in an aversion from speed for the Indian driver. Truck drivers have to be educated about the right way of driving vehicles for economy, increments for economical driving to the drivers proved to be a strong point to achieve low carbon emissions. 

It was brought to notice that better quality low rolling resistance tyres should be mandatory on commercial vehicles to reduce fuel consumption.