Why in News?
Battery electric vehicles are at the heart of the government’s push for net zero. However, what has worked for Norway and China may not be as successful in India’s peculiar conditions. While there is little debate that electrification is the future, the roadmap remains unclear.
 
Context:
Humans have been trying to shift to sustainable alternatives to save the earth for the past several decades. One such way is using Electric Vehicles. Through various policy initiatives, the Government is pushing hard to make a gradual transition to the usage of Electric Vehicles in the country.
EVs have emerged as a promising solution to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

What are Electric Vehicles?  
An E-vehicle or Electric Vehicle is one that needs an electric motor to generate power and function instead of an internal-combustion engine that generates power by burning a mix of gases and fuel. Electric Vehicles have a battery that can be charged by an electric supply. This electric energy is used to run the motor. There is a hybrid electric vehicle as well, which means a combination of an electric motor and a combustion engine.

Types of Electric Vehicles:  
Electric Vehicles are categorized into four types.
They are categorised based on the source of power they use.
For Example, some EVs only run on electricity, while some EVs use a combination of petroleum or diesel and electricity.

1. Plug-in electric: Such Electric Vehicles run purely on electricity, and it is powered when it is plugged in to charge. They don’t produce emissions like petrol or diesel.
  
2. Plug-in hybrid: Their primary source of power is electricity, but these vehicles also have a fuel engine. These cars produce emissions only when they run on fuel engines but not when they run on electricity.
  
3. Battery Electric Vehicles: These Electric Vehicles primarily run on petrol or diesel, but they’re also fitted with an electric battery. One can charge the battery through regenerative braking. It comes with a button that lets you switch from using a fuel engine to using an electric battery (EV mode.)
  
4. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs): These vehicles use a highly efficient electrochemical process to convert hydrogen into electricity, and it powers the electric motor.

Current Scenario of EVs in India:  
·         India is currently the fifth-largest vehicle market in the world and has the potential to become one of the top three soon.
·         About two in every hundred cars sold today are powered by electricity with EV sales for the year 2020 reaching 2.1 million.
·         The India Electric Vehicle Market has a market size of USD 5 billion in 2020 and is projected to grow at an astounding CAGR of over 44%.
·         The number of electric vehicles (EVs) expected to be on Indian roads by end of 2023 is expected to be 2.2 million.

Global Scenario:  
·         The global EV fleet totalled 8.0 million in 2020 with EVs accounting for 1% of the global vehicle stock and 2.6% of global car sales.

Forecast of EVs in India :  
·         EVs on the roads is anticipated to be 3.90 million in 2024, 5.62 million in 2025, and 7.51 million in 2026 and by 2027 they will be 9.1 million.

Need for Electric Vehicles: India is in need of a transportation revolution.  
·         Keeping in mind the goals set under the Paris agreement, the increasing number of automobile customers shall not imply an increase in the consumption of conventional fuels.
·         To ensure a positive growth rate towards achieving India’s Net Zero Emissions by 2070, a transportation revolution is required in India which will lead to better walkability, public transportation; railways, roads and Electric Mobility.
·         The current trajectory of adding ever more cars running on expensive imported fuel and cluttering up already overcrowded cities suffering from infrastructure bottlenecks and intense air pollution is unfeasible.
·         The transition to electric mobility is a promising global strategy for decarbonising the transport sector.

Benefits of EVs:  
1. Environmental Benefits: EVs have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Unlike fossil fuel engine vehicles, EVs produce zero emissions.
EVs help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants that contribute to air pollution, smog, and global warming. They help in reducing harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
  
2. Health Benefits:
Usage of Electric Vehicles that release zero Emissions will have a direct positive impact on public health, as cleaner air reduces the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
  
3. Energy Diversity and Security:
EVs contribute to energy diversity by reducing dependence on oil imports. As the electricity grid can be powered by a mix of energy sources, including renewables like solar and wind.
EVs offer the opportunity to shift transportation towards cleaner and more sustainable energy options. This reduces vulnerability to fluctuations in oil prices and enhances energy security by reducing reliance on fossil fuel imports.
  
4. Technological Advancements:
The development and adoption of EVs have spurred technological advancements in battery technology and charging infrastructure.
These advancements not only benefit the automobile sector but also have broader applications, such as energy storage for renewable energy sources and grid stability.
  
5. Employment Generation:
Electric mobility creates jobs and innovation in battery manufacturing, renewable energy, and charging infrastructure.
  
6. Long-Term Cost Savings: Electric vehicles have lower operating costs, as electricity is generally cheaper than gasoline or diesel.
Moreover, EVs have fewer moving parts and require less maintenance, resulting in reduced servicing and repair expenses over time.
  
7. Decongesting Cities:
Electric vehicles can help decongesting cities by promoting shared mobility and compact design. Shared mobility refers to the use of vehicles as a service rather than as a personal asset. This can reduce the number of vehicles on the road and the need for parking space.
  
Compact design refers to the use of smaller and lighter vehicles that can fit more easily in urban spaces. This can also reduce congestion and emissions.

Innovative and futuristic smart EVs for shorter intra-city distances, day- trips, and the like would not need a bigger battery. That means less time to recharge and lower cost.

Challenges in adoption of EVs:  
1. High Initial Cost: The upfront cost of purchasing an electric vehicle is relatively higher compared to conventional vehicles. The high initial cost makes it less affordable for many potential buyers, limiting the demand for EVs.
This cost difference is primarily due to the expensive battery technology used in EVs.

2. Electricity Source: In several countries that have pushed EVs, much of the electricity is generated from renewables — Norway has 99% hydroelectric power. In India, the grid is still fed largely by coal-fired thermal plants.  
Unless the generation mix changes significantly, India would be using fossil fuel generation to power EVs.

3. Limited Charging Infrastructure: In India, the charging infrastructure is still in the early stages of development and is concentrated in major cities.
The lack of a robust and widespread charging network makes it inconvenient for EV owners, especially for those living in apartments or without dedicated parking spaces.
  
4. Value Chain Issues:
The demand for Li-ion batteries from India is projected to grow at a CAGR of more than 30% by volume up to 2030, which translates to more than 50,000 tonnes of lithium requirement for the country to manufacture EV batteries alone.
But more than 90% of the global Li production is concentrated in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia alongside Australia and China, and other key inputs such as cobalt and nickel are mined in the Congo and Indonesia — India would, therefore, be almost entirely dependent on imports from a small pool of countries to cater to its demand. While other options to Li-ion are being explored, viability remains a key factor.
  
5. Range Anxiety: Range anxiety refers to the fear or concern of running out of battery charge while driving. Limited driving range is a significant challenge for EV adoption. 
Although EV ranges have been improving, there is still a perception that EVs may not offer sufficient range for long-distance travel, particularly in a country with vast distances like India.
The batteries in EVs degrade over time, which can lead to a decrease in range.
  
6. Battery Technology and Supply Chain: The production of lithium-ion batteries, which are a key component of EVs, requires specific minerals and rare earth elements.
India currently relies heavily on imports for battery manufacturing, leading to supply chain challenges.
The charging time of EVs is longer than the refuelling time of conventional vehicles, which affects their convenience and usability.
  
7. Limited Model Options: Currently, the availability of electric vehicle models in India is relatively limited compared to conventional vehicles. The market needs more options in various segments, including affordable EVs, to cater to diverse consumer preferences and requirements.
  
Way Forward:  
There are a lot of technologies to choose from as alternatives to Electric Vehicles that include:
1. HYBRIDS:
The hybrid technology is seen as a good intermediate step towards achieving the all-electric goal. Hybrids typically have improved fuel efficiency through electrification of the powertrain, but do not require the charging infrastructure base that is an essential for BEVs.
2. ETHANOL & FLEX FUEL: A flex fuel, or flexible fuel, vehicle has an internal combustion engine, but unlike a regular petrol or diesel vehicle, it can run on more than one type of fuel, or even a mixture of fuels such as petrol and ethanol.
A nationwide pilot that is currently underway aims to replicate the commercial deployment of this technology in other markets such as Brazil, Canada, and the US.
3. FCEVs & HYDROGEN ICE: Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are practically zero emission, but a major hurdle to their adoption has been the lack of fuelling station infrastructure.
Safety is also a concern. Hydrogen is pressurised and stored in a cryogenic tank, from there it is fed to a lower-pressure cell and put through an electro-chemical reaction to generate electricity.
4. SYNTHETIC FUELS: German manufacturer Porsche is developing a synthetic fuel that it says can make an internal combustion engine as clean as an EV. Porsche’s eFuels are made from carbon dioxide and hydrogen, and are produced using renewable energy. The fuel production is being tested in Chile. Formula One will use synthetic fuel from 2026.

Mains Question:
 Q: EVs is Panacea for achieving the Carbon Neutrality goal by 2070 though being suffered with many challenges- Comment.