Is India ready for a world where electric vehicles will dominate transportation?

Synopsis: India needs Electric Vehicles to protect the environment and acquire a permanent place in the new global order.

Introduction

Fossil-fuel-based transportation has resulted in pollution around the world. India has nine of the 10 most polluted cities in the world I.e., Greater Noida, Noida, Lucknow, and Delhi, etc. Thus, the government is steadily encouraging electric vehicles.  

How Electric Vehicles are beneficial compared to combustion engines? 

An EV operates on an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine. and has a battery instead of a fuel tank. 

1) It does not emit environmentally harmful gases. 2) It’s cost of running is 80 paise per kilometer compared to 7-8 per kilometer for petrol-based vehicles.  

Initiatives to promote EV 

Government Initiatives: 1) National Electric Mobility Mission Plan aims at least 30 per cent of vehicles on our streets by 2030, would be electric. 2) Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme: It provides for road and registration tax subsidies and technological support to encourage the manufacturing and purchase of electric vehicles.  

Private initiatives: Companies like Amazon, Swiggy, Zomato, and Ikea are deploying EVs for deliveries. Car manufacturers like Mahindra and Tata Motors are making partnerships with mobility companies Ola and blue smart mobility respectively, to ensure more EV delivery and ride-hailing services.   

Challenges in the adoption of electric vehicles in India

lack of charging infrastructure in India is a major issue. At present, there are only 427 charging stations around the country.  

Uninterrupted supply of electricity will also be a challenge in the adoption of EVs.   

India will be dependent upon foreign countries like China and Korea for lithium-based EV batteries. Its manufacturing in India is at a nominal stage.  

Source: This post is based on the article “Driving a New World Order” published in Indian Express on 30th October 2021.