E MOBILITY MIGRATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

The Economic Survey 2023 has said that the “automotive industry is expected to play an important role in transition towards green energy India’s domestic electric vehicle market will be growing by almost 49% annually within next 7 - 8 years

It is literally a race against time for adoption of electric vehicles (EV) in India Despite the imperatives of cutting carbon emissions and reducing India’s dependence on crude oil around 80-82% of which needs to be imported, we have remained badly short of the stated adoption goals since our home-grown EV industry took its first steps 5-6 years ago.

In the past three – four years, the EV makers have collectively sold around 3 lakh EVs (majority of them three-wheelers and twowheelers) The traditional automotive sector, has managed to sell more than 8 million passenger cars and around 60 million two wheelers. Clearly far more fuel driven vehicles are selling compared to EVs

For consumers to shift to an electric vehicle (car or two-wheeler), affordability and mileage are the two main considerations, besides Charging infrastructure. Still, most of the EVs sold are ‘Second’ car for a buyer An Electric car with a starting Price range of 8 Lac, Charging time of 30 minutes, drive range of 400 km plus on one charge and Charging infra every 50 km on highways can be a strong influence in Customer preference migration towards electric vehicles

While migration from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars to Electric Vehicles (EVs) have various environmental and societal benefits due to zero tailpipe emissions, which means they don't release dangerous pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, they also aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the fight against climate change, yet, it is critical to evaluate the sustainability of EVs across their entire lifespan, including battery manufacture, usage and disposal, as well as the source of the power needed to charge them

It is important for EV manufacturers to adapt sustainability initiatives to Cut Greenhouse Gas emission, Use Renewable Energy in the form of Solar, Wind and Wind -Solar Hybrid, Reduce Energy and Water consumption and adapt Circular Economy in Automotive Eco system Recycle and reuse of the EV battery will play a crucial role in overcoming Sustainability concerns linked with Electric Vehicles

Additionally, in order to preserve society throughout the transition to EVs, it is critical to guarantee that everyone has access to the benefits of EV technology, even those who may not be able to afford their own EVs This may be accomplished through public transit, incentives for low-income people to buy EVs, and ensuring that charging infrastructure is easily accessible in all locations.

VIVEK GOSAIN

EXECUTIVE LEADER IN TATA MOTORS PASSENGER

Overall, transitioning from ICE cars to EVs can have considerable environmental and societal advantages; however, it is critical to approach this transition in a responsible and sustainable manner that considers the whole lifetime of EVs and guarantees equal access for everyone.

India had not yet finalized its battery swapping policy However, the government had released a draft policy in June 2021 for public consultation.

The draft policy proposed the creation of a regulatory framework for battery swapping infrastructure and services in India It aimed to address the issues of range anxiety and high upfront costs associated with EV ownership, as well as promote the adoption of EVs in the commercial sector

Under the proposed policy, battery swapping service providers would be required to obtain a license from the appropriate regulatory authority The license would specify the terms and conditions for operating battery swapping infrastructure, including safety standards, battery quality requirements, and service levels

The policy also outlined the technical specifications for batteries used in battery swapping, including their physical dimensions, electrical characteristics, and performance parameters These