Fuel economy: the key to driving emissions reduction in India
Ajay Agarwal, Shell Product Application Specialist for the Heavy-Duty Transport and Automotive Sector in India, explains how advanced lubricant technology has helped fleets keep pace with tightening emissions standards.
Ajay Agarwal: Shell Product Application Specialist for Heavy-Duty Transport and Automotive Lubricants in India.
He is responsible for the product development and implementation of heavy-duty oils for OEMs and their customers across India and Southeast Asia. With more than 30 years of industry experience, he has authored several papers in the field of transport lubricants and biodiesel. Today, Agarwal is focused on the topics of fuel economy, electrification, hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels.
Following the 2020 introduction of new emissions standards in India, known as Bharat Stage (BS) VI, fuel economy became a critical concern for heavy-duty fleets across the country. High-performance lubricants have played a key role in helping operators adapt to shifting regulations while improving fuel consumption. Discover how advanced lubricant technology has helped fleets in India to comply with new standards and what other markets transitioning to tighter standards should consider.
In 2020, India’s commercial road transport sector experienced a pivotal change. Following a four-year adjustment period, the Bharat Stage (BS) VI emissions standards – the Indian equivalent of the European Union’s (EU) Euro norms – came into force. A shift that reshaped the country’s approach to reducing heavy-duty vehicle emissions at a national level.
As Ajay Agarwal, Product Application Specialist at Shell, explains, the new standards arrived in a unique way. “We leapfrogged from BS IV straight to BS VI – skipping BS V entirely,” he says. “The Indian government saw it as a necessary step that offered the opportunity to catch up to Euro 6 and to reduce air pollution across the country.”
Bridging a 10-year gap in emissions standards between India and the EU presented heavy-duty fleets with an ambitious goal. A goal that could not be achieved without the adoption of updated vehicle technologies including:
Use of aftertreatment devices like engine gas recirculation (EGR) and selective catalyst regeneration (SCR) in vehicles.
Measures to reduce particulate matter (PM), including diesel particulate filters (DPFs).
Improved sensor technology for use with low-sulphur fuels.
Implementing these technologies may seem straightforward, but Agarwal explains this was a drastic shake up. “The new standards meant that operators had to integrate this technology into their fleet operations and maintenance practices.”
Faced with these changes, fleets had to find ways of making it work commercially. Fuel economy began to take on a new level of importance.
Reducing emissions through lower fuel consumption
To support the switch, India invested heavily in its refineries to make BS-VI-compliant fuel widely available. The country also introduced a vehicle scrappage scheme to help businesses rebuild their fleets with vehicles that met the new standards. Another important change was the 2017 introduction of new fuel economy norms for commercial vehicles in India.
Aimed at Category M3 and N3 vehicles (those with a maximum mass above 12 tonnes), the norms were implemented in two phases: the first in 2018 and the second in 2022.
“These new norms were designed to significantly reduce the amount of fuel that heavy-duty vehicles consumed as part of their operations,” notes Agarwal. “Each vehicle had to calculate their specific targets based on the type of vehicle, gross vehicle weight and speed.” But did the push for greater fuel economy work? “Looking at the difference between phases 1 and 2, we saw an incremental increase in fuel economy,” says Agarwal.
Beyond driving emissions reductions in line with BS VI, the fuel economy changes offered fleets the potential to lower the total cost of ownership (TCO) of their new compliant vehicles. But new norms were not the only driver for improved fuel economy.
High-performance lubrication: a cost-effective way to stay competitive
Changing the engineering of a vehicle is one method for improving fuel economy. However, this can be costly and present significant challenges. Agarwal highlights how using the right engine and driveline fluids can provide an impactful alternative.
“High-performance lubricants have played a key role in helping fleets in India adapt to the BS VI standards and fuel economy,” he says. “They are more cost-effective than other technologies– helping fleets to remain as competitive as possible while addressing emissions and air pollution.”
For Agarwal, operators looking to lower fuel consumption and TCO today need to consider the properties that lubricants can provide.
“Fleets should look to use products with synthetic and semi-synthetic base oils that drive performance in modern engines,” he says. “Lower viscosities that can drive fuel economy without compromising protection are essential. Then there are low-ash formulations that address the challenges of using aftertreatment devices. All are key considerations.”
Driving performance through leading product technology
Throughout the change in emissions standards, Shell has provided a range of high-performance lubricants to support India’s BS-VI-compliant engines including:
- Shell Rimula R4 L 15W-40
- Shell Rimula R5 LE 10W-30 & 10W-40
- Shell Rimula R6 LM 10W-40
Of these, Shell Rimula R6 LM is proven to provide better engine wear protection1 while helping to lower oil consumption.2 Similarly, Shell Rimula Ultra can provide operators with fuel economy improvements of up to 2%.3
As part of its longstanding relationship with market leader TATA Motors, Shell continues to test and develop products designed to drive fuel economy and reduce total cost of ownership.
“With the development of Shell Rimula T5 E 10W-30, following a detailed engine study at Shell’s Technology Centre, we were able to offer a 3% improvement in fuel economy over 15W-40 oils4,” says Agarwal. “We are proud to be the first to demonstrate SAE 10W-30 in Indian conditions without compromising engine durability so our local customers can be confident in their fleet’s performance today and in the future.”
Where next for heavy-duty fleets in India?
There is currently no mandate for the Indian government to update the BS VI standards further (and no direct financial incentive for fleets). But, as fleets have seen from the transition to BS VI, they will be better positioned if they prepare themselves now for any potential future changes.
Other markets in the APAC region, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, are also working towards tighter emissions standards. As in India, collaboration between OEMs, fleet operators, fuel suppliers and regulators will be essential for a smooth transition.
To apply the lessons from the Indian market, fleets should continue to focus on fuel economy, vehicle performance and using the latest lubricant technologies to deliver the best results from their engines.
Unsure where to start? Local account managers have the experience and network of technical experts needed to provide tailored guidance on how to incorporate advanced lubricants into fleet management programmes.
Disclaimers:
1 Compared to the revised more stringent MB 228.61 limit, as measured in the MB OM 646 LA Engine Test.
2 Compared with the Volvo VDS-4.5 limit, as measured in the Mack T12 300 h engine test.
3 Over a 100,00 km oil drain interval, compared with a typical 10W-40 oil.
4 According to the field test and the ARAI chassis dynamometer test.
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