Syllabus: GS3/ Conservation/Environmental Pollution & Degradation
In Context
- Considering the worsening air quality index (AQI) in many Indian cities, there is a need to push top gear on the pace of transition to e-trucks.
Urban Pollution in India
- Concerns of Air Quality:
- The air quality index (AQI) in many Indian cities has entered the red zone several days this year.
- Millions of people have to face serious health hazards due to recurring increases in air pollution.
- Role of transport and construction sector:
- As per two seminal studies pertaining to Delhi, the Urban Emission (2015) and the TERI study (2018), a significant contributor to urban smog is PM2.5 and PM10 pollution, which is caused by the transport and construction sector.
- Contribution of freight movement:
- About 9 lakh new trucks are added to Indian roads every year to an already running fleet of 70 lakh trucks.
- India carries over 2 trillion tonne kilometres of freight on trucks, annually.
- These trucks consume over one-fourth of Indian oil imports and contribute to over 90% of road transport CO2 emissions.
Challenges
- Potential rise in freight movement:
- The rate of increase of the truck fleet is expected to keep increasing in a growing network of roads in an emerging economy.
- If all these new trucks are powered by diesel-fired internal combustion engines vehicles, as is the case today, our cities will face a greater onslaught of PM2.5 pollution.
- Low rate of electrification:
- India has already electrified rail freight transportation, but that caters to only about 20% of the freight carried in the country.
- On roads, India’s electric vehicle penetration rate has crossed the 6% mark, but electric trucks remain a challenge due to upfront costs and charging infrastructure constraints.
- Cost of e truck:
- The upfront cost of a mid-range electric truck in India is around ₹1.5 crore compared to about ₹40 lakh for a diesel truck.
- This and the cost of charging logistics remain major hurdles in the transition to e-trucks in the country.
Suggestions
- e-trucks:
- In India, transport sector decarbonisation pathways have to be led by truck electrification.
- The recent demand for 7,750 e-trucks in India by 2030, if it materialises, will result in the country saving over 800 billion litres of diesel till 2050.
- Attracting private capital:
- Public funding alone cannot meet the transformational scale required.
- A pipeline of bankable projects, effectively structured, which can attract private and institutional capital at a ratio of at least six rupees for every rupee of public money is the need of the hour.
- Capacity building:
- Electricity demand in the country has increased rapidly and is expected to rise further in the years to come.
- In order to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the country, massive addition to the installed generating capacity is required.
- Green freight corridors:
- Declaring some of the expressways and national highways as green freight corridors will have a demonstration effect in the country.
- Accelerating feasibility studies, demand aggregation, supplier readiness, and a prudent risk allocation strategy are required to create green freight corridors in India.
- Such corridors can first evolve in small stretches of 500 kilometres on routes with heavy truck movement.
- Creating facilitative infrastructure:
- Innovative financial instruments, incentivisation of charging infrastructure, facilitation of entrepreneurial efforts, and a conducive regulatory environment in the country can bring forth the much-needed breakthrough for truck electrification in India.
| Advantages of Electric Vehicles | Challenges of Electric Vehicles |
| – Lower operating costs: Electric vehicles have lower fuel costs and require less maintenance than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. – Environmental benefits: EVs produce zero emissions and can significantly reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. – Energy independence: As more renewable energy sources are used to power EVs, it can reduce dependence on fossil fuels. – Improved performance: EVs have instant torque, which means they can accelerate quickly, and have a smoother and quieter ride. – Government incentives: Many countries and local governments offer tax credits, rebates, and other incentives to encourage the purchase of EVs. – Cost reduction: The cost of EVs is constantly reducing as the technology improves and economies of scale increase. – Convenience: Many electric vehicles have the ability to charge at home using a standard electrical outlet, eliminating the need to visit a gas station. – Energy security: EV’s use domestic electricity to power the car, reducing the need for oil imports. | – High initial cost: The upfront cost of EVs is still higher than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, making it difficult for many consumers to afford them. – Limited charging infrastructure: The lack of charging infrastructure makes it difficult for EV owners to travel long distances. – Battery technology: The current battery technology still has some limitations, such as limited driving range and long charging time. – Limited domestic manufacturing capabilities: India currently lacks the domestic manufacturing capabilities for electric vehicle components and batteries, making it dependent on imports. – Lack of awareness: There is still a lack of awareness about the benefits of EVs among the general public in India. – Lack of standardization: The lack of standardization in charging infrastructure and lack of uniformity in regulations across states and union territories is a challenge. – Power Grid infrastructure: India’s power grid infrastructure is not fully developed and is not capable of handling the high-power demand of EV charging stations. |
Way Ahead
- It is commendable that the government is aggressively electrifying the bus fleet, and sets electrification targets for bus aggregators.
- However, we must realise the urgency of the need to take such concerted efforts if we want a fresh breath of life in our cities.
- In this era of urgency, where every breath counts, deploying solutions swiftly is paramount.
- The focus must extend to diesel trucks and dust mitigation — significant PM sources requiring immediate attention. This is important both from an energy security perspective and sustainability perspective.
| Roadmap for Electric Vehicles – India has set an ambitious goal to become a leader in the electric vehicle market by 2030 with the government laying out a comprehensive roadmap to achieve this goal, which includes several initiatives and policies to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in the country. – One of the key initiatives is the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme, which provides subsidies to customers who purchase electric vehicles. – The government has also set a target to achieve 30% electric vehicle penetration in the country by 2030. – In this regard, the government is also taking steps for the development of domestic manufacturing capabilities for electric vehicles and their components. |
| Daily Mains Question [Q] Examine the need of transition to e-trucks considering the worsening air quality index in Indian cities. What are the challenges in shouldering this transition? |
