Indian ELV Status Updates

The Indian ELV directive aims to reduce the environmental impact of discarded vehicles. It promotes sustainable practices in the automotive sector through vehicle component reuse, recycling, and recovery targets. Here are some of the updates of this regulation in India.

• The Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) applies to M1, L1, and L2 vehicle categories produced or imported for sale in India and type-approved as per Central Motor Vehicles (CMV) Rule 126, based on Indian regulations. Along with enforcing the directive, the registered vehicle scrapping facility (RVSF) must be promoted.
• After discussions between the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and OEMs, the government has planned vehicle-type approval for RRR (Approval is given for those vehicles that satisfy Recyclability, Recoverability, and Reusability requirements) and HMR tracking. The regulation may be enforced from April 2024.
• The last updated AIS 129 has two essential aspects:

1. Collection and Dismantling ELVS
2. Restriction of heavy metals and approval of Vehicle types conforming to Recyclability, Recoverability, and Reusability. The L, M, and N category-type vehicles must be reusable or recyclable, 80% or 85% by mass.

• To comply with the AIS 129 ELV standards, many OEMs have already adopted IMDS for material declaration. This latest standard focuses on four chemical substances: Cadmium, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury, and Lead.
• With the new changes to ELV standards, India is also ready to move to the scrappage revolution. The proposal suggests that commercial vehicles failing to obtain a fitness certificate will be de-registered after 15 years, and higher fees will be imposed for the fitness test and certification beyond that timeframe. Private vehicles may face de-registration after 20 years or if their registration is not renewed, with increased re-registration fees applicable 15 years after initial registration. Furthermore, vehicles belonging to various government bodies could be de-registered and scrapped after 15 years. To encourage owners, a scheme offers incentives for scrapping old vehicles through authorized centers, providing them with a scrapping certificate.