Electric vehicles can lower emissions of volatile organic compounds in India by 2030: Study

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According to a study, India can slash emissions of volatile organic molecules (VOC) by 76% in the next eight years by swapping all two- and three-wheelers with electric vehicles and all diesel-fuelled ones with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

What are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)?

Volatile Organic Compounds(VOC) are organic chemical compounds whose composition makes it possible for them to evaporate under normal indoor atmospheric conditions of temperature and pressure.

Common examples of VOCs are: benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and 1,3-butadiene.

Source of VOCs: VOCs are released by petrol and diesel vehicles. They impact air quality and human health. However, VOCs can have a natural origin, too. Plants emit these chemicals to attract pollinators, defend themselves from pests and predators and adapt to environmental stress.

Effect of VOCs on Health: VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, damage body organs and cause cancer.Long-term exposure to VOCs is not good because the majority of the VOCs are carcinogenic (cancer-causing).It is also linked to medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.

Note: Benzene, a chemical that induces cancer, is the only VOC included in the ambient air-quality standards.

Formation of Dangerous Pollutants: VOCs can drive the formation of other dangerous pollutants. For instance, they react with sunlight and nitrogen dioxide to form ground-level ozone.

VOCs also trigger the formation of Particulate Matter (PM2.5), a pollutant that reaches deep into the lungs, affecting their normal functioning. They also react in the air to produce secondary organic aerosols, minute particles suspended in the air.

Electric Vehicles and Volatile Organic Compounds

India is home to 14 out of the top 20 most polluted cities globally. Around 1.67 million deaths were linked to air pollution in 2019. The country lost 1.36% of its gross domestic product the same year.

The gases escaping out of a vehicle’s exhaust account for 65-80% of an automobile’s emissions.

That’s why, this study has suggested replacing all petrol, diesel, LPG and CNG fuelled two- and three-wheelers with electric vehicles in 2030. This could slash emissions of volatile organic molecules (VOC) by 76%.

It could also lower the emissions of black carbon — a sooty black material coming from gas and diesel-powered vehicles — by 50%.

Source: This post is based on the article “Electric vehicles can lower emissions of volatile organic compounds in India by 2030: Study” published in Down To Earth on 12^th Feb 2022.