Switching over to electric vehicles in India is an intense need to show its commitment towards environmental sustainability . The following are the reasons for shifting
1-India is a signatory to Paris climate agreement and India is obliged to bring down emission by 2030 of its share.
2-many of its big cities are among world's highly polluted cities and an Ex-CJI of India has already Shown his strong annoyance to pollution due to problem of breathing in New Delhi and use of masks by students a few years back.
3- India imports 82% of its oil requirements .According to oil ministry it will be upto 85 billion dollars this financial year , which needs an alternative to fossil fuel .
This required the government to roll out national policy for electric vehicles .There is a need for formation of standards and specifications for the vehicles & also there should be a clarity over the rules regarding manufacturing and subsidies for their batteries if country really wants to shift completely to electric vehicles by 2030 .India is world's fifth largest auto market and thinking for transformation from fossil fuel vehicles to electric vehicles. it is estimated that automobile sector's massive conversion will cut its oil bill by approximately 60 billion dollars and reduce emission by 37 percent in the next 13 years. India's road transport minister Nitin Gadkari made the governments intention clear in this regard by saying to SIAM on 7thSeptember that "we should move towards alternative fuel... I am going to do this ,whether you like it or not ",and I am not going to ask you. I will bulldoze it".
ours is a country in which 20 million vehicles are sold every year, then how it will be possible such a huge drive. it will required support from administration, private sector and general public. As a precursor India's renewable energy ministry has been appointed the nodal agency to help to procure 10000 electric cars to replace existing government vehicles .
Government of Karnataka also has approved a policy to Promote research and development in electric mobility. it has made it mandatory to have charging points and pods in all high Rises .Ola began operating 200 electric vehicles in Nagpur city ,but the problems in this area are vast and a lot of has to be done for making the system Viable e.g.
Electric vehicles are expensive primarily due to their costly batteries , which are mostly imported. This challenge makes low electric vehicle demands in India . Today a mere 2000 four wheelers and 20000 two wheelers are sold in India annually. Therefore government needs to subsidize battery and Lithium import or incentivise companies to set this business in India .Over the past few years the prices of batteries have declined from $600 per unit in 2012 to $250 per unit in 2017 but there should be further fall in price to make EVs cheaper than petrol vehicles. The government should make efforts for lithium -ion battery making through its PSUs.
The charging infrastructure and robust smart electricity grid is required to take the additional load. This is also a big challenge to achieve .There are only 100 charging stations across India which makes electric vehicles run in city areas.
India's first electric car was launched in 2001 by REVA at Bengaluru .Since then, except for 2016 when segment saw 36% growth to 22000 units, including four and two wheelers ,the electric vehicle industry has been subdued.
Also an electric vehicle in India gives an average about 120 km on full charge making them unsuitable for long drives. Then there is lack of speed ,Indian made battery powered cars have a top speed of 85 kilometres per hour .Therefore a lot has to be done before a complete shift to electric vehicles in India but in the time when air pollution in Indian cities is posing a threat to life and protection of environment is must.There is no best solution than to e-vehicles. It is need of hour.
Though a lot more has to be done for getting to hundred percent shift to e- vehicles in years to come but it should be a welcome step towards e-vehicles.
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