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Methanol-15 (M-15) fuel will be used in BS-IVto lower greenhouse gas emissions.

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• This is according to the mass emission standards for flex-fuel M15 or M100 and MD 95 vehicles notified last year.
• The use of blended fuel M-15 in BS-IV cars can result in lowering of greenhouse gas emissions by about 5 to 10 %, thereby improving air quality.

M-15 fuel

• It is a blend of 15 % methanol and 85 % Gasoline.
• It is a clean burning drop in fuel which can replace both petrol & diesel in transportation & LPG, Wood, Kerosene in cooking fuel.
• It can also replace diesel in Railways, Marine Sector, Power Generation and this could be the ideal complement to Hybrid and Electric Mobility.
• Methanol Economy is the 'Bridge' to the dream of a complete "Hydrogen based fuel systems".
• M-15 in petrol and diesel will reduce pollution by 33% and 80 % respectively.
• It burns efficiently in all internal combustion engines, produces no particulate matter, no soot, almost nil SOX and NOX emissions (Near Zero Pollution).

Bharat stage emission standards

• These emission standards were set by the central government to keep a check on the pollutant levels emitted by vehicles that use combustion engines.
• The norms were introduced in 2000. With appropriate fuel and technology, they limit the release of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, particulate matter (PM) and sulphur oxides from vehicles
• These norms are based on European emission norms which, for example, are referred to in a similar manner like ‘Euro 4’ and ‘Euro 6’. These norms are followed largely by all automakers across the globe and act as a good reference point as to how much does a vehicle pollute.
• To bring them into force, the Central Pollution Control Board sets timelines and standards which have to be followed by automakers.
• The higher the number gets, the stricter the Bharat Stage emission norms get which eventually means it becomes trickier (and costlier) for automakers to meet them.
• Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) norms are two stages ahead of the present BS IV norms in regulating emissions. BS-VI norm would come into force from April 1, 2020 in India.

Difference between BS-VI and BS-IV

• The major difference is the presence of sulphur in the fuel. While the BS-IV fuels contain 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur, the BS-VI grade fuel only has 10 ppm sulphur content.