Adopting e-mobility for a greener India

 The need to switch towards alternative energy sources in the automotive industry is growing rapidly. While addressing challenges on the way, the article highlights the priorities to help India achieve 30% EVs by 2030.

- K.Arunagiri

As an engineering student of the 90s, this question evokes an emotional response to forecast the end of the engineering marvel invented in the 19th century coming to its diminishing term. The lab models at engineering colleges teaching IC engines to many mechanical engineers evolved from the ideal Carnot engine to the gasoline-powered internal combustion engines converting heat energy produced by combustion to kinetic energy on the wheels. Piston, crankshafts, cylinder head, cylinder blocks, flywheels and camshafts are on their way to be preserved in a grand engineering museum in the future.

Towards a safer planet

This question is now becoming more important and the driving force behind this is consensus among the world population towards making our planet sustainable and world leaders agreeing to a commitment to reducing carbon footprint by working together. India has committed to becoming net zero by 2070 and part of our ambition is also to generate energy from renewable sources with our plan to achieve 500GW by 2030.

Gasoline-powered IC engines having provided service to world humanity for more than a century has application spread across multiple areas in the field of mobility via motor vehicles to boats and aircraft and in applications like power generators, lawn movers, chainsaws, etc.

The need to switch towards alternative energy sources, especially in the Indian context are emerging from two aspects:

1. Environmental pollution: At least 10 cities in India appear among the top polluting cities of the world, Delhi is the world’s most polluted capital.

2. Import cost burden: The cost of crude to our economy (₹1681 B in FY’22).