Study Reveals PUCC Test Ineffectiveness, Questions CNG Viability

A study conducted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) alongside Delhi and Gurugram authorities highlights that many vehicles exhibit high emissions exceeding PUCC limits under real-driving conditions. The study advocates for remote sensing to supplement PUCC tests and questions the efficacy of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a cleaner alternative fuel.

A new study has found that a significant percentage of vehicles exhibit emissions above PUCC limits in real-driving conditions, calling for the use of remote sensing to complement PUCC inspections in the short term.

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), in collaboration with Delhi and Gurugram authorities, reported that current Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) tests fail to reflect actual driving emissions.

The study points out the shortcomings of the PUCC procedure and suggests establishing retest infrastructure identified by remote sensing over a broader range of conditions in the long term. It also found that compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, particularly in areas with poor air quality like Delhi and Gurugram, emit high nitrogen oxides (NOx), raising questions about their promotion as a cleaner alternative to zero-emission vehicles.

ICCT conducted remote-sensing analysis between December 2022 and April 2023 across 20 sites, capturing 1,11,712 tailpipe emission measurements from various vehicle types. The findings revealed BS-VI vehicles showed improvements, but many emissions remained above set limits, especially NOx. The data indicated high-use commercial vehicles had significantly higher emissions than private ones. The study underscores the necessity to rethink emissions testing and push for zero-emission vehicles' adoption.

(With inputs from agencies.)