Electric vehicles (EVs) are automobiles that run on electricity only. They are propelled by one or more electric motors powered by rechargeable battery packs. Electric vehicles are cleaner than petroleum-fuelled vehicles and are seen as a promising solution to global warming.

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Electric vehicles and sustainable mobility:

• In India, the automobile industry is one of the key sectors driving economic growth.
• It is anticipated that the 2020s will be the decade of the electric car and a step forward towards a clean environment for the next generation.
• Electric vehicles are cleaner than petroleum-fuelled vehicles and are seen as a promising solution to global warming.
• Adoption of electric and shared vehicles could help country save $60 billion in diesel and petrol along with cutting down as much as 1 gigatonne (GT) of carbon emissions by 2030.?It will help in achieving the target of “Paris climate agreement”.
• Electric vehicles operating cost per kilometre driven is lower and it contributes to cutting city pollution.
• According to a research, 90 per cent of India’s car owners would willingly switch to electric cars, with proper infrastructural support.
• The government aims for 30 per cent electric mobility by 2030

Pros of Electric Vehicles:

• No Fuel Required
  • Electric cars are entirely charged by the electricity, meaning there is no need to buy any fuel ever again.
  • Though electricity isn’t free, an electric car is far cheaper to run.
• No Emissions
  • Electric cars are 100 percent eco-friendly as they run on electrically powered engines
  • It does not emit toxic gases or smoke in the environment as it runs on clean energy source
  • Reducing the carbon footprint and positively affecting the economy
• Reduced Noise Pollution
  • Electric cars put curb on noise pollution as they are much quieter
  • Electric motors are capable of providing smooth drive with higher acceleration over longer distances
• Cost Effective
  • with more technological advancements, both cost and maintenance have gone down making it cost effective
• Low Maintenance
  • Electric cars run on electrically powered engines and hence there is no need to lubricate the engines
  • Therefore, the maintenance cost of these cars has come down.

Cons of Electric Vehicles:

• Short Driving Range and Speed
  • Most of these cars have range about 50-100 miles and need to be recharged again.
• Battery Recharge Issues
  • Lack of attention on building charging infrastructure.
  • An electric car takes about 4-6 hours to get fully charged. Therefore there is a need for dedicated power stations as the time taken to recharge them is quite long.
• Silence as Disadvantage
  • Silence can be a bit disadvantage as people like to hear noise if they are coming from behind them
  • An electric car is however silent and can lead to accidents in some cases.
• Limited seating capacity
  • They are not meant for entire family and a third person can make journey for other two passengers bit uncomfortable.
• Not Suitable for Cities Facing Shortage of Power
  • Cities already facing acute power shortage are not suitable for electric cars.
  • The consumption of more power would hamper their daily power needs.
• High cost
  • The primary reason for the current high prices of EVs is the expensive battery

Way forward:

• For EVs to contribute effectively, we need commensurate efforts in developing an entire ecosystem.
• Need to shift the focus from subsidizing vehicles to subsidizing batteries because batteries make up 50% of EV costs.
• Increasing focus on incentivizing electric two-wheelers because two-wheelers account for 76% of the vehicles in the country and consume most of the fuel.
• A wide network of charging stations is imminent for attracting investment.
• Work places in tech parks, Public bus depots, and Multiplexes are the potential places where charging points could be installed. In Bangalore, some malls have charging points in parking
• Corporates could invest in charging stations as Corporate Social Responsibility compliances.
• Addressing technical concerns like AC versus DC charging stations, handling of peak demand, grid stability etc.
• Private investment in battery manufacturing plants and developing low cost production technology is needed.
• India is highly dependent on thermal sources, which account for about 65% of current capacity. As EV adoption increases, so should the contribution of renewables.
• Need for a policy roadmap on electric vehicles so that investments can be planned.
• Acquiring lithium fields in Bolivia, Australia, and Chile could become as important as buying oil fields as India needs raw material to make batteries for electric vehicles.
• Providing waiver of road tax and registration fees, GST refunds and free parking spaces for EVs.