Auto Firms Oppose Bid To Enforce Use Of Catalytic Convertors

Instead, it has suggested that the government fix the emission norms and let the industry decide the technology to be used to meet these standards, said R Ramakrishnan, head of the committee.

At a meeting held in Pune last Saturday to discuss the issue of catalytic convertors, the committee identified the following disadvantages in catalytic convertors:

Unlike other vehicle parts, the catalytic convertor of a vehicle cannot be tested on the road. Hence, there is no way of knowing whether the catalytic convertor is effectively functional in a car or whether it is damaged;

The manufacturers of catalytic convertors cannot give any guarantee for the product's life;

 

These cannot be retro-fitted as each convertor has to be custom-made for the type of engine used

Catalytic convertors work on the oxidation principle and, hence, cannot reduce emission of Nox from diesel engines, or benzene from some petrol engines

It is difficult to be fitted into two-wheelers due to limited space - catalytic convertors work only within a temperature range of 250 degrees celsius to 800 degrees celsius, too much heat destroys it. Hence, any space restriction will render it ineffective

It generates tremendous heat when operational which will be a difficult problem to get around in two-wheelers where it has to be fitted under the passenger seat

The AIAM technical committee favours the alternative route of developing a more-efficient engine in the first place to reduce emission levels.

It argues that catalytic convertors will provide only a myopic solution to the pollution problem and deflect attention from the need for technical upgradation.

Many automobile makers have already begun work on upgrading the engine efficiency.

The Pune meeting was attended by automobile manufacturers, catalytic convertor makers as well as representatives from the government including ministries of industry, surface transport, and environment, and the chairman of Central Pollution Control Board.

The problems of the two-wheeler segment was outlined in presentations by Bajaj Auto Ltd and TVS-Suzuki, while the user industry listened to limitations of on-road testing from six manufacturers of catalytic convertors, including five multinationals.

The AIAM has asked the government to fix reasonable emission norms for year 2000