{"id":19146,"date":"2023-12-01T17:42:51","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T12:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/?p=19146"},"modified":"2025-07-18T13:13:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T07:43:08","slug":"fleet-electrification-to-tackle-urban-pollution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/01-12-2023\/fleet-electrification-to-tackle-urban-pollution","title":{"rendered":"Fleet Electrification to Tackle Urban Pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Conservation\/Environmental Pollution &amp; Degradation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Urban Pollution in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Concerns of Air Quality:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/07-11-2022\/air-quality-index-aqi\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/07-11-2022\/air-quality-index-aqi\">air quality index (AQI)<\/a><\/strong> in many Indian cities has entered the <strong>red zone<\/strong> several days this year.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Millions of people have to face <strong>serious health hazards<\/strong> due to recurring increases in air pollution.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Role of transport and construction sector:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As per two seminal studies pertaining to <strong>Delhi, the Urban Emission (2015) and the TERI study (2018)<\/strong>, a significant contributor to urban smog is <strong>PM2.5 and PM10 pollution<\/strong>, which is caused by the transport and construction sector.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Contribution of freight movement:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About 9 lakh new trucks are added to Indian roads every year to an already running fleet of 70 lakh trucks.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India carries over 2 trillion tonne kilometres of freight on trucks, annually.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These trucks consume <strong>over one-fourth of Indian oil imports<\/strong> and contribute to <strong>over 90% of road transport CO<sub>2<\/sub> emissions<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Potential rise in freight movement:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The rate of increase of the truck fleet is expected to keep increasing in a growing network of roads in an emerging economy.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low rate of electrification:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has already electrified rail freight transportation, but that caters to only <strong>about 20% of the freight carried<\/strong> in the country.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>On roads, India\u2019s electric vehicle penetration rate has crossed the 6% mark, but<strong> electric trucks remain a challenge<\/strong> due to <strong>upfront costs<\/strong> and <strong>charging infrastructure<\/strong> constraints.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost of e truck:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The upfront cost of a <strong>mid-range electric truck <\/strong>in India is around \u20b91.5 crore compared to about \u20b940 lakh for a diesel truck.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This and the cost of charging logistics remain major hurdles in the transition to e-trucks in the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Suggestions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>e-trucks:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In India, transport sector decarbonisation pathways have to be led by truck electrification.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The recent demand for<strong> 7,750 e-trucks in India by 2030<\/strong>, if it materialises, will result in the country saving over 800 billion litres of diesel till 2050.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Attracting private capital:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Public funding alone cannot meet the transformational scale required.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Capacity building:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Electricity <strong>demand in the country has increased rapidly<\/strong> and is expected to rise further in the years to come.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In order to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the country, <strong>massive addition to the installed generating capacity<\/strong> is required.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Green freight corridors:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Declaring some of the <strong>expressways and national highways<\/strong> as green freight corridors will have a demonstration effect in the country.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accelerating feasibility studies, demand aggregation, supplier readiness, and a prudent risk allocation strategy are required to create green freight corridors in India.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Such corridors <strong>can first evolve in small stretches<\/strong> of 500 kilometres on routes with heavy truck movement.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Creating facilitative infrastructure:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>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.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff1ba\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Advantages of Electric Vehicles<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Challenges of Electric Vehicles\u00a0<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&#8211; <strong>Lower operating costs: <\/strong>Electric vehicles have lower fuel costs and require less maintenance than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.<br>&#8211; <strong>Environmental benefits: <\/strong>EVs produce zero emissions and can significantly reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.<br>&#8211; <strong>Energy independence:<\/strong> As more renewable energy sources are used to power EVs, it can reduce dependence on fossil fuels.<br>&#8211; <strong>Improved performance: <\/strong>EVs have instant torque, which means they can accelerate quickly, and have a smoother and quieter ride.<br>&#8211; <strong>Government incentives: <\/strong>Many countries and local governments offer tax credits, rebates, and other incentives to encourage the purchase of EVs.<br>&#8211; <strong>Cost reduction: <\/strong>The cost of EVs is constantly reducing as the technology improves and economies of scale increase.<br>&#8211; <strong>Convenience: <\/strong>Many electric vehicles have the ability to charge at home using a standard electrical outlet, eliminating the need to visit a gas station.<br>&#8211; <strong>Energy security: <\/strong>EV\u2019s use domestic electricity to power the car, reducing the need for oil imports.<\/td><td>&#8211; <strong>High initial cost:<\/strong> The upfront cost of EVs is still higher than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, making it difficult for many consumers to afford them.<br>&#8211; <strong>Limited charging infrastructure: <\/strong>The lack of charging infrastructure makes it difficult for EV owners to travel long distances.<br>&#8211; <strong>Battery technology:<\/strong> The current battery technology still has some limitations, such as limited driving range and long charging time.<br>&#8211; <strong>Limited domestic manufacturing capabilities:<\/strong> India currently lacks the domestic manufacturing capabilities for electric vehicle components and batteries, making it dependent on imports.<br>&#8211; <strong>Lack of awareness: <\/strong>There is still a lack of awareness about the benefits of EVs among the general public in India.<br>&#8211; <strong>Lack of standardization:<\/strong> The lack of standardization in charging infrastructure and lack of uniformity in regulations across states and union territories is a challenge.<br>&#8211; <strong>Power Grid infrastructure:<\/strong> India\u2019s power grid infrastructure is not fully developed and is not capable of handling the high-power demand of EV charging stations.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is commendable that the government is aggressively electrifying the bus fleet, and sets electrification targets for bus aggregators.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In this era of urgency, where every breath counts, deploying solutions swiftly is paramount.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The focus must extend to diesel trucks and dust mitigation \u2014 significant PM sources requiring immediate attention. This is important both from an energy security perspective and sustainability perspective.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff1ba\"><tbody><tr><td><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Roadmap for Electric Vehicles<\/strong><br><\/span>&#8211; India has set an ambitious goal to become a <strong>leader in the electric vehicle market by 2030 <\/strong>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.<br>&#8211; One of the key initiatives is the <strong>Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme<\/strong>, which provides subsidies to customers who purchase electric vehicles.<br>&#8211; The government has also set a target to achieve<strong> 30% electric vehicle penetration in the country by 2030<\/strong>.<br>&#8211; In this regard, the government is also taking steps for the development of domestic manufacturing capabilities for electric vehicles and their components.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ced4f2\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Daily Mains Question<\/strong><br><\/span><strong>[Q] <\/strong>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?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-75\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/previous-year-upsc-mains-papers?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=utm_blog_pyqmains\">Check UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1_12_Fleet-Electrification-to-Tackle-Urban-Pollution.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Syllabus: GS3\/ Conservation\/Environmental Pollution &amp; Degradation In Context Urban Pollution in India Challenges Suggestions Advantages of Electric Vehicles Challenges of Electric Vehicles\u00a0 &#8211; Lower operating costs: Electric vehicles have lower fuel costs and require less maintenance than traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.&#8211; Environmental benefits: EVs produce zero emissions and can significantly reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19146"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19146\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28561,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19146\/revisions\/28561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}