Not only Delhi, Gurugram, or Noida, but children and elderly people also living in major cities in India are choking as carbon emission caused by transportation is causing serious air pollution. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) 2018 report, among the 20 most polluted cities in the world, 14 are in India. Moreover, petroleum reserves are set to dry up in future. So, now, the best solution seems to be the use of electronic vehicles.
According to a survey, car owners are also ready to buy e-vehicles if they can reduce air pollution and become user-friendly. An expert on e-vehicles says there is no denying that the future of transportation is battery-powered vehicles, or ‘clean energy’ vehicles. In a rapidly growing country such as India, it makes perfect sense to go the electric way. The rising pollution, population, cost of living, cost of fuel (petrol/diesel) and so forth are going to affect each individual adversely.
Logistics cost plays a very major role in each individual’s day-to-day life, directly or indirectly. Electronic Vehicles (EVs) have the potential to have a positive impact on human lives by addressing all the above issues. Battery prices are reducing gradually and subsidies will also reduce the ownership cost of vehicles to an affordable range. Generally, the operating cost of an EV is 1/4th of its equivalent Internal Combustion (IC) type of vehicle.
But, as the world is fast moving towards e-vehicles and car manufacturers shifting their resources towards R&D of EVs, it will not be long before IC vehicles become history. PM Narendra Modi’s government had targeted 30% sales of electric cars and two-wheelers by 2030. But EVs were not in demand till recently because manufacturers and sellers were waiting for government policies, including manufacturing and buying incentives and for proper charging infrastructure.
Public transport, such as 3-wheelers, taxis and buses will be the first to adopt the EV idea.
Electronic two-wheelers have caught on because of the government’s FAME subsidy scheme, which has been accepted quite well by people living in cities. Although the charging infrastructure is still inadequate, efforts are being made to standardize and maximize its network. With an increase in the number of vehicles, various infrastructure solutions are also emerging. Battery swapping will be an enabler in the commercial EV segment. FAME-II is largely focused on commercial EVs and it will set the direction in the right way. Besides, localized manufacturing will boost better product quality and accountability.
India has the potential of being a leader in the EV industry in the mass mobility segment. Electronic three-wheelers are already a successful category of vehicles that have given self-employment benefits to around a million people and have a very high return on investment (RoI) at low costs. Indirectly, this is also making a positive impact on the environment. There are various government departments that have started deploying EVs in their regular operations (municipalities, hospitals, feeder services and so forth).
The future of vehicles is electric and, for India, the sooner we migrate to EVs the better for our country and the people.
Future of transportation is electric
A recent report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance says:
*India will have better progress in electric 2-wheelers, e-rickshaws and e-buses in 10 years and, by 2040, e-vehicles will comprise 40% of the total number of passenger vehicles in India.
*By end-2017, there were just 6,000 highway-capable electric cars plying on Indian roads, which is a minuscule number compared to the total number of cars on Indian roads.
*The report says annual EV sales will reach 30,000 units in 2022 as opposed to only 2,000 units in 2017.
*If e-vehicle sales grow according to the study, they will comprise about 6.6% of the annual vehicle sales by 2030 and will rise to 27% by 2040.
*About 13% of the passenger vehicles in India will go electric by 2040.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the organisation itself.
