How do we evaluate the impact of electric vehicles on Environment? What will be the Environmental aspects of the Electric Vehicles? Are we ready for the change? Let’s take a look how Electric Vehicles will help us to reduce air pollution.
Air pollution has engulfed the entire world. Even the small level of pollution is taking away two-three years of a person’s life. It’s just a matter of time that the ever-growing air pollution will leave the planet not worthy of living.
There are cities which are most affected and are already taking actions about the increasing air pollution. But if your city is not much impacted yet, you can take a sigh of relief only for a few coming years.
Few of the Indian cities have been consistently making to the list of the most polluted cities of the world. Before air pollution dooms us, it’s time to make some conscious changes to be able to contribute to the environment.
Admittedly, the automobile industry is one of the important sectors driving economic growth. Every year the industry sees a massive jump as compared to the previous fiscal year.
However, it doesn’t go without noticing that the automobile industry is one of the biggest contributors to pollution in the country.
The air quality of any city will be greatly improved if most vehicles were electric. Statistically speaking, if the right efforts are put in the direction of electrification of the vehicles, India will see a reduction of 35% carbon emissions by 2030.
Not only this, the fuel (petrol and diesel) costs up to 60 billion dollars will be saved by the end of the next decade. Having said that, with the current infrastructure and progress in this direction, it is quite difficult for India to adopt a fully electric fleet by the end of the coming decade.
There are a number of programs and policies launched by the government such as – Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME Scheme) and many more.
Fossil fuel Era Vs Lithium Age
The vehicles in India generally run on either petrol or diesel and both these fuel modes add to the pollution. In the case of petrol cars, energy to run the car is produced by combusting the fuel inside the engine.
This process leads to the release of by-products like Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide and plenty of Suspended Particles. These toxic emissions deter the environment as well as harm human beings in more ways than one.
When a vehicle with diesel fuel is concerned, the effects of the pollutants released are even more dangerous.
While the automobile giants are continually working on improving the pollution control technology, yet the immense reduction in pollutant release is quite far from reach.
In today’s lithium age, electric cars convert the electrical energy of a battery to rotate a motor which in turn moves the vehicle.
Electric vehicles do not involve any fuel combustion process to produce energy and thus there is no chance of producing any pollutants and hence resulting in absolutely clean and green energy.
Electric Vehicles for India
“You have to match the convenience of the gasoline car in order for people to buy an electric car,” opines Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk
It will be a gradual change to the adoption of electric vehicles in India as it will need a shift in mindsets of people who wouldn’t want to spend more than conventional vehicles.
It is only eventually people will realize that electric vehicles will not only have less running cost but will also immensely add in conserving the environment.
EVs fit perfectly for the Indians as WHO has declared six Indian cities in the list of most polluted cities in the world. A survey also suggests that 70% of Indians commute less than 1000 km in a month and hence electric vehicles will be ideal for their usage.
Is going electric the way forward?
There is no denying that there are some concerns about the range and recharge duration of EVs, yet it can easily be believed that electric vehicles are far superior in many aspects.
With ongoing exponential development in technology, it seems that range and recharge problems can easily be overcome.
Government is also focusing on the production of greener energy sources and thus it is formulating policies and plans in favor of manufacturing of electric vehicles and their adoption.
With the advancements in the electric mobility and the support of the government, it is certainly going to be the way forward with all its benefits to curb air pollution resulting in a greener environment.