Page 43 - TrafficInfraTech Magazine - July Digital Edition

NEW MOBILITY

ne main debate revolves around emissions from passenger cars and provided
whether electric vehicles (EVs) insights into the questions surrounding
are truly eco-friendly in India, electric vehicles.
given the emissions associated
with electricity generation Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel
Ofrom coal-based power plants. cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) powered by
Similarly, there is discussion about the limited renewable hydrogen enable a substantial
range of EVs, which is an important concern. reduction in life-cycle GHG emissions
Additionally, people worry about a lack of compared to gasoline, diesel, and natural
charging infrastructure, and so on. gas-powered cars. Modest blends of biofuels
offer minimal GHG reduction benefits, and
Let us look at these questions in a little while increasing biofuel content could further
more detail to understand if EVs can really reduce emissions, the limited supply of waste
deliver on climate, public health, and and residue-based biofuels poses a challenge.
economic targets. Food-based biofuels also have negative
environmental and social implications.
Cleaning Transport: An
imperative for climate and Moreover, studies on liquefied natural
public health targets gas (LNG) vehicles reveal that they have
higher emissions than diesel vehicles
Transportation accounts for nearly a quarter when considering 20-year global warming
of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. potentials and all GHGs, primarily due to
In India, the transport sector’s emissions methane leakage.
continue to rise steadily, making up almost
14% of the nation’s CO2 emissions, with road Electric Vehicles: A cleaner
transport contributing 90% of this total. As option even with India’s
India strives to achieve net-zero emissions by existing grid
2070, decarbonizing road transport becomes
a vital aspect of meeting climate goals. India’s current electricity grid heavily
relies on fossil fuels, yet BEVs still emit
A study conducted by the Automotive fewer greenhouse gases over their lifetimes
Research Association of India (ARAI) and compared to internal combustion engine
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in vehicles. The efficiency of electric motors
2018 highlighted that motor vehicle exhaust contributes to this reduction. In 2021, BEVs
is a primary source of criteria air pollutants in India produced approximately 19%-34%
in Delhi, contributing to approximately fewer GHG emissions than gasoline cars,
40% of the city’s PM2.5 emissions. Tackling and electric two-wheelers performed even
transport emissions is crucial for cleaner air better, emitting 33%-50% less than their
and improved public health. gasoline counterparts.
Given that India has recently surpassed Although renewable energy accounted for
Japan to become the world’s third-largest nearly 11% of India’s electricity production in
automobile market, the Indian auto industry the financial year 2021-22, the country aims
holds a significant responsibility in achieving to generate 500 GW of renewable energy
climate and public health targets. by 2030, further enhancing BEVs’ emission
reduction potential.
The inadequacy of internal
combustion engines in While hydrogen technology may find
meeting climate goals applications in India’s heavy-duty vehicle
fleet, it is evident that zero tailpipe
Research conducted by the International emission vehicles, especially BEVs, hold
Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) the key to a sustainable future in most
analysed the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) vehicle categories.

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