Everything you need to know about Real Driving Emissions (RDE) norms

Real Driving Emissions (RDE) norms have become a crucial part of the BS6 emission regulations one year after being implemented in India. RDE mandates vehicles to be equipped with Portable Emissions Measurement Systems (PEMS) to measure emissions in actual driving conditions rather than in laboratories.

The BS6 emission norm requires vehicle manufacturers to comply with the latest emission regulations. However, the concept of Real Driving Emission (RDE) norms is not clear to many. RDE is a testing method developed to measure emissions in real-world driving conditions, ensuring accurate emission data.

RDE mandates vehicles to have a Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS) and require diesel vehicles to be equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems. SCR systems reduce emissions by converting pollutants into water, nitrogen, and minimal carbon dioxide. The enforcement of RDE in BS6’s second phase requires automakers to use more advanced and costly SCR systems.

The implementation of RDE has impacted car buyers through significant price hikes in passenger vehicles, including small cars. Automakers have increased prices due to production cost surges from the new norms. This has led to consumers facing higher costs for vehicles in the past year.