Environment
Electric Vehicles
The objective of this analysis is to answer some basic questions which will help you decide whether or not to own an EV in 2021…!
We will discuss some interesting basics of electric vehicle (EV, hereafter).
So, let’s start:
What is an EV?
Tesla, Ola Electric, Tata, and the likes of these companies manufacture EVs. EVs have no direct tailpipe emissions; Yes, that’s right. EVs are “zero emission” vehicles. They are referred to as battery electric vehicles. They don’t have an engine…they have an electric motor instead!
The vehicles running on petrol, diesel, or CNG are internal combustion engine (ICE engine) vehicles.
EVs can be of two types: All Electric Vehicles (AEVs) or PHEVs (hybrid type, very few models)
Let’s now talk a bit about the EV adoption in India: About 6.38 lakh EVs have been registered since 2011-12, and this figure has doubled in last three years (2017-2020) (So: TOI). Although this segment accounted for only about 0.88% of the total vehicular registrations in FY 2020-2021, it is growing very fast (SO: TOI) and in the next three years, sales are expected to grow annually at 26% (SO: BS)
That was the market perspective. As far as government perspective is concerned, we have National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020, FAME 1 (2015-2019), and FAME 2 (2020 onwards). FAME India scheme, which is the abbreviation of “Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (hybrid and) Electric vehicles”), works exactly for the purpose stated in the name of scheme as it provides financial assistance and rebates to manufacturers and customers. It has been launched by the Department of Heavy Industries (so: PIB)
So, a question surfaces in the mind: Why this exuberance? Well, the reasons are multiple – mitigation of climate change and air pollution, lesser dependence of Government on oil imports, and fuel cost savings for the consumer.
And now, we come to the most interesting part of the blog:
Do you know these interesting facts?
- EVs are more efficient for city driving than highway driving – benefits of regenerative braking maximized (So: AFDC4)
- Electric cycle startup, Voltro Motors has launched an electric cycle of 35,000 price tag, which runs at a fuel cost of Rs. 4 per km, charges fully in 3 hours, runs 100 km in full tank, and has a speed limit of 25 km/hr (So: ET Auto)
- EVs feel lighter as they accelerate faster than ICE vehicles (So: EDF)
- Three wheelers make up for 65% and two wheelers for 30% of FY21 EV registrations (So: TOI)
- States leading the EV race in FY21 are UP, Bihar, and Karnataka (So: TOI) as of Mar 2021
- As of now, we have 1,800 charging stations in India (So: FE)
- There are three levels of charging for EVs: Level 1: Time taken is very high, but no infrastructure required, plug the car cable to three-pin socket, 120 volts. Level 2: Time taken is much lower, energy efficiency is higher, AC wall box charger needs to be installed, 240 volts. Level 3: Time taken is considerable low, DC current, available in public charging stations, 480 volts
Through EV 30@30 campaign, India hopes to have 30% new vehicle sales as electric by 2030 (So: NITI). Some believe that Electric Vehicles are the Future, while for others, that Future is Now!
Links:
https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-all-electric-cars-work (AFDC1)
https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric.html (AFDC2)
https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/how-do-fuel-cell-electric-cars-work (AFDC3)
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1577880
https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_basics_ev.html (AFDC4)
https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/energywise/how-do-electric-cars-work
pratimapandey www.conserveenvironment.org 