Emission Control and Sustainability: Evaluating Bharat Stage â€" 6 (BS6) Technology in Indian Automotive Industry

Author : Parvesh Saini

Abstract :India’s Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) standards represent a step-change in vehicular emission control, mandating ultra-low-sulphur fuels and advanced after-treatment (DPF, SCR) to curb NOx and particulate emissions. This paper evaluates BS6 through four lenses—vehicle performance and fuel efficiency, cost and pricing implications, consumer perception, and environmental outcomes—framed by Diffusion of Innovations. We conducted a structured survey (N=50) comprising five binary items to gauge awareness and perceived impacts; responses were summarized using proportions with confidence intervals. Results indicate broad consumer recognition of BS6 benefits: 70% report improved fuel efficiency, 90% perceive performance gains over BS4, and 90% believe BS6 contributes to cleaner air. At the same time, 80% observe higher vehicle prices and 70% acknowledge costlier, more sophisticated components, pointing to manufacturer and lifecycle-cost pressures. Synthesis with prior literature highlights enabling factors (fuel quality, after treatment reliability) and implementation challenges (service capability, real-world emissions monitoring, and legacy vehicle fleets). We discuss policy and industry implications, including incremental ICE efficiency, hybridization as a bridge to electrification, and robust compliance/diagnostics. The study provides a concise, consumer-level view of BS6 adoption and outlines practical pathways to strengthen environmental performance while managing affordability and operability

Keywords :Bharat Stage 6 (BS6), Emission Standards, Automotive India, Consumer Perception, Vehicle Performance, Cost Implications, Environmental Outcomes.

Conference Name :International Conference on Mechanical And Automobile Engineering (ICMAPE-25)

Conference Place Chandigarh India

Conference Date 8th Nov 2025