The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) of India has proposed amendments that may help boost Autogas market, especially conversions. The new standards projected will promote stricter environmental enforcement and lower barriers to LPG adaptations, making it more accessible and affordable for vehicle owners.

The changes aim to simplify and extend regulations for vehicles retrofitted with LPG kits, as they will offer a relief by doubling the validity of type approvals from three to six years, subject to vehicles passing additional performance tests.

According to industry players, the proposal is “a step in the right direction,” and represents a significant shift towards sustainable transportation, both promising to strengthen the Autogas vehicle market and set a new benchmark for environmental responsibility.

“This is a significant relief as the validity of type approvals has been extended. Industry expresses its gratitude to the Government of India and MoRTH for engaging with us,” said Suyash Gupta, Director General, Indian Auto LPG Coalition.

“This draft, if notified, shall surely enable more players to reach out to test agencies like ICAT and ARAI and obtain type approvals, thus resulting in affordable conversion kits being offered to the customer. This comes at a time when the OEMs, in particular, have been focusing only on the higher-selling EVs or the CNG variants with options and low-hanging fruits like Autogas being ignored by the OEMs,” he added.

With this move, the Government plans to modernise the Autogas kit approval process and ensure long-term compliance with emissions and safety standards. The notification outlines a series of tests required for both type approval and revalidation of vehicles, encompassing crucial aspects of their performance and environmental impact.

The essence of the proposed amendments lies in the introduction of a comprehensive suite of tests for vehicle approval and revalidation. These tests are designed to rigorously assess vehicles on multiple fronts, including emissions, safety standards, and overall environmental impact. Key among them are mass emission tests, on-board diagnostics, in-service conformity, In-Use Performance Ratio (IUPR) tests, and CO2 emission measurement. By mandating such stringent testing, the amendments not only aim to ensure that LPG retrofits meet the highest standards of performance and safety but also contribute to the broader goal of environmental conservation.

Source: Business Standard

Photo: Unsplash

13 March 2024