FUTURE OF THE INDIAN ELECTRIC VEHICLE INDUSTRY

Many of the biggest automobile players have launched EVs–both four and two-wheelers.Now, there is an urgent need to build viable infrastructure support for EVs like fast chargers, e-highways and overhead electricity networks for trucks and buses

- Nimish Trivedi

“Air pollution is the new tobacco.”

– Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO), 2017.

Now in 2020, not only is the above statement the new world reality, but India is particularly affected by it. As per a recent Greenpeace air quality report, 231 out of 287 Indian cities are severely polluted, with PM10 levels exceeding the limits set under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

While multiple factors contribute to the rising air pollution, a significant one is the amount of vehicular/carbon emissions that get released daily in the atmosphere. We are the third largest carbon-emitting country, accounting for 7 percent of global carbon emissions. Suffice to say, we might be the fastest growing economy in the world, but it comes at a cost of severe climate change.

The Indian Government is cognizant of this fact and has announced the ambition to reduce the emission intensity of India’s GDP by 33-35 percent by 2030. Electric Vehicles (EVs) will be playing a major role to transform the said goal to reality. NITI Ayog has already recommended the sale of only electric vehicles by the year 2030. In addition, the adoption of EVs will not only reduce air but noise pollution as well. The future will definitely hold quieter roads!