Electric vehicles: Why and how

There are three key reasons why countries need to electrify their vehicle fleet. One is climate change.

- SUNITA NARAIN

The transport sector guzzles massive amounts of oil (petrol and diesel) and globally contributes roughly 15 percent of annual carbon dioxide emissions. Zero-emission vehicles, or electric vehicles (EVs), replace oil with electricity, which is ideally generated in renewable-energy plants, and are seen as the solution.

The second reason, which is more important for Indian cities, is that replacing petrol and diesel vehicles with zero-emission ones will reduce local pollution. And third: It will save us valuable foreign exchange because oil consumption will lessen.

All of these are valid reasons to act. But these alone cannot usher in the change that is needed. We need a reset: A review of what we are doing and why, so that we can move not just the vehicle electrification agenda but get the benefits that are so desperately required.