The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) will periodically review the development of Bharat Vecto amid ongoing consultations with the automobile industry over implementing stricter Constant Speed Fuel Consumption (CSFC) testing protocol for medium and heavy commercial vehicles. According to reports from Mint, the BEE, which operates under the Union power ministry, has conveyed that the tool 'should not be developed as a black box' during recent government-industry consultations. The BEE and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) will now hold periodic review meetings to ensure the BEE understands the methodology used in the tool's development.
Bharat Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool, or Bharat Vecto, is being developed by the ARAI with direction from the Union road transport and highways ministry since January 2025. As reported by Mint, the tool simulates real-world conditions of Indian roads and tests fuel efficiency of commercial vehicles, based on the European vehicle energy consumption calculation tool (Vecto). The ARAI plans to launch it for diesel vehicles by December 2026, though industry experts indicate the tool is likely to take longer to develop and standardize its use across the industry.
A year-long deadlock persists as the automobile industry pushes for Bharat Vecto to be standardized before the new CSFC norms take effect, while the government remains committed to implementing them from April 2027. According to Mint reports, the auto industry wants Bharat Vecto to replace the proposed CSFC test, which involves driving vehicles at 40kmph and 60kmph on test tracks, as it is designed to reflect real-world Indian operating conditions. The standoff highlights the industry's preference for a tool that better represents actual commercial vehicle usage patterns in Indian markets.
Trucks account for less than 5% of vehicles on Indian roads but generate about 33% of the country's transport-related carbon dioxide emissions. As reported by Mint, India sells 800,000-900,000 trucks annually, with the market valued at $20.18 billion according to Mordor Intelligence. The CSFC framework, similar to Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms for cars, measures average emissions of manufacturer fleets each year and sets limits on emissions per kilometre as well as fuel consumption over given distances. Improving truck fuel economy through cleaner technologies is critical as India pursues its 2070 net-zero target and seeks to reduce crude oil import dependence.
According to Mint reports, experts say Bharat Vecto can serve as a clear baseline for truck fuel-economy assessment in India, as Indian driving conditions and truck use cases differ from global markets. Ashim Sharma, senior partner and business unit head at Nomura Research Institute (NRI) Consulting and Solutions, India, explained that the tool is designed as a simulation to test real-world fuel consumption in Indian driving conditions for various truck duty cycles and configurations. The tool simulates actual conditions including drive and duty cycles, road conditions, truck model designs, and vehicle component level data to provide clearer views of vehicle fuel economy after sale.
