Green Mobility

Public health is a fundamental pillar of society, with inextricable links to a country’s economic growth. For a service-, agriculture-, and manufacturing-driven economy like India with a population of over 140 crore, citizen welfare directly influences labour force participation and productivity.

The Indian automobile industry is currently valued at USD 108 billion. The Government of India has undertaken considerable strides (through purchase subsidies and auto production-linked incentive scheme, among others) to facilitate the green transition of the well-established domestic automotive industry and promote EV uptake. As a result of such initiatives, more than 28 lakh EVs are plying on road as of July 2023.

Decarbonisation of the transportation sector—the world’s second highest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—is critical to mitigate climate change. Most European and North American nations and China have settled on vehicle electrification as the best GHG reduction strategy.

The Government of India, too, has provided subsidies for electric cars (e-cars), but whether their adoption is the best way to decarbonise the transport sector requires further exploration.

In India, emissions from one truck are equivalent to those from 25 cabs. With the expected increase in economic activity and consumerism, the share of trucks in transportation emissions is bound to increase. Thus, freight decarbonisation is crucial to meet India’s net-zero and energy independence targets.

The electric vehicle (EV) segment in India has witnessed a phenomenal growth in the last few years. More than 1 million EVs were sold in FY23 alone, and this segment grew by a whopping 154% year-over-year. For this momentum to persist, the country’s EV charging infrastructure needs to grow at a rapid pace.