Truck firms step in to plug use of spurious parts, contaminated fuel

Top truck makers are educating the customer on vehicle maintenance.

With BS6, the electronics in the vehicles will be so complex that roadside repairs, use of unauthorised parts and use of contaminated AdBlue will seriously jeopardise the entire Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system that cleans up diesel emissions.

As India readies to migrate to BS6 from April 2020, the truck and bus market is facing the threat of contaminated AdBlue (a compound used to clean up NOX — nitrogenoxide in diesel exhaust fumes) as well as spurious parts and roadside repairs which have been rampant so far. 

With BS6, the electronics in the vehicles will be so complex that roadside repairs, use of unauthorised parts and use of contaminated AdBlue will seriously jeopardise the entire Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system that cleans up diesel emissions. 

Top truck makers like Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV) and M&M are stepping on the gas not only to crack down on spurious parts and contamination but also educating the customer on vehicle maintenance.

“Traditionally for large truck companies, a lot of the repairs are roadside jobs but with increased electronic content both in BS4 and more importantly in BS6, repairs have to be done at authorised service stations. The surveillance system has to be strong to weed out counterfeit parts and contaminated fuel,” said VECV CEO Vinod Aggarwal.

“Even with BS4 the industry is facing a challenge in after treatment system particularly the SCR system which will be more complex with BS6. A material called AdBlue, used in SCR system to reduce NOX in emission, is being contaminated. 

The genuine AdBlue costs around Rs 40 per litre but people will buy contaminated version for half that price which if used will mess up the entire SCR system,” said Vinod Sahay, CEO, Mahindra Trucks & Buses Division.

While industry body SIAM is taking up the issue of contamination and spurious diesel, the companies are educating customers to stick to authorised products and cracking down on wrong doers. 

DICV on Monday prosecuted Pyken Industries for manufacturing and selling spare parts bearing the mark BharatBenz and operating an unauthorized domain under the BharatBenz brand name following a Delhi High court order. 

“It is about creating awareness and ensuring safety,” said Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO, DICV.