Supply:IE
Why in Information?
A latest research reveals that whereas electrical autos (EVs) scale back greenhouse gasoline emissions, their heavier weight results in elevated tyre put on, releasing extra microplastic air pollution—difficult the notion that EVs are totally eco-friendly.
What are the Environmental Issues Concerning EVs?
Tyre Microplastic Air pollution: EVs are sometimes 15–20% heavier than inside combustion engine (ICE) autos as a result of battery packs weighing 300–900 kg, resulting in elevated tyre stress and put on.
Main fragmentation, attributable to sudden braking or highway impacts, releases micro-sized particles, whereas sequential fragmentation from routine put on produces bigger particles.
Smaller fragments (1–10 μm) stay airborne, contributing to air air pollution, whereas bigger ones (>100 μm) choose roads, affecting soil and water.
Speedy acceleration in EVs additional will increase friction and warmth, intensifying microplastic emissions.
Whereas EVs reduce tailpipe emissions, they enhance non-exhaust air pollution, presenting a posh environmental trade-off.
Lithium-Ion Battery Hazards: Manufacturing a single EV releases 16–19 tonnes of CO₂, virtually double that of an ICE car (7–10 tonnes).
Producing 1 tonne of lithium requires roughly 1.89 million liters of freshwater affecting groundwater and ecosystems.
Recycling and Waste Administration Deficit: Usually EV batteries find yourself in landfills after injury or end-of-life. Correct recycling infrastructure is insufficient.
Cobalt and lithium residues can take centuries to interrupt down and pose lasting dangers to human and environmental well being.
Grid Dependency & Fossil Fuels: EVs are solely as inexperienced because the grid that powers them. India’s grid continues to be coal-dominated. Coal-fired energy vegetation emit 800–850g of CO₂/kWh, which powers most EVs in India.
Many public charging stations run on diesel turbines, mockingly growing emissions.
What are Gaps in EV Regulation in India?
Inconsistent and Fragmented Coverage Implementation: Current air air pollution requirements concentrate on particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and PM10, however tyre particles are sometimes smaller and unregulated. No present requirements adequately deal with non-exhaust emissions comparable to tyre and brake put on.
India is at the moment woefully underprepared to handle the huge quantity of EV battery waste anticipated over the approaching decade.
Critically, India lacks strong laws to stop the unlawful dumping of spent lithium-ion batteries. The present authorized framework together with the E-waste (Administration and Dealing with) Guidelines, 2011, E-waste (Administration) Guidelines, 2016, and the 2018 modification has developed by way of the vary of supplies coated. Nevertheless, it fails to offer a cohesive, devoted framework for the secure disposal and recycling of EV batteries.
This regulatory hole dangers turning India right into a dumping floor for home and imported battery waste.
EV schemes like FAME-I and II have had restricted influence as a result of inconsistent implementation. Whereas states like Gujarat and Delhi have robust insurance policies, many lack even a fundamental EV roadmap.
The absence of uniform requirements throughout states hinders nationwide scalability and integration.
Restricted Scope of Authorities Incentives: The EV efforts focus totally on 3-wheelers and buses in choose city areas, leaving out rural and semi-urban adoption potential.
EV efforts are primarily restricted to intra-city transport, and long-distance inter-city electrification lacks a viable roadmap.
Charging Infrastructure Gaps: The present charging infrastructure is inadequate and underdeveloped, particularly exterior metro cities.
There is no such thing as a nationwide standardisation of charging tools and battery applied sciences, leading to compatibility points throughout EV manufacturers and stations.
Excessive price (funding ranging round Rs 1 crore or extra) for establishing a charging station is a significant deterrent, particularly with out assured demand or utilization.
Lack of Devoted Regulatory Authority: There may be at the moment no single company or division devoted to EV regulation and coordination throughout ministries (Transport, Energy, Renewable Power, Atmosphere, and so forth.).
The absence of a unified institutional mechanism hampers environment friendly decision-making, monitoring, and fast response to trade wants.
Insufficient Give attention to Provide Chain Safety: India lacks a safe and diversified provide of essential uncooked supplies like lithium (India imported 70% of its lithium-ion cells in 2023 ), cobalt, and uncommon earth parts wanted for EV batteries.
There is no such thing as a complete nationwide technique to construct home reserves, create worldwide partnerships, or incentivize native alternate options (e.g., sodium-ion batteries).
Restricted Client Consciousness and Adoption Assist: Client adoption stays low as a result of restricted consciousness of EV advantages, vary anxiousness and battery issues, and poor promotion of dwelling or decentralized charging choices.
What are India’s Key Initiatives to Promote EV Adoption?
How can India Stability EV Progress with Environmental Sustainability?
Promote Inexperienced Manufacturing: Encourage EV and battery manufacturing powered by renewable power. Below schemes just like the PLI for Superior Chemistry Cell (ACC) batteries, manufacturing ought to be tied to low-carbon practices.
Combine photo voltaic and wind power with private and non-private EV charging stations. Initiatives like PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana can help decentralised, clear electrical energy for charging.
Encourage Automobile-to-Grid (V2G) applied sciences, which may help steadiness intermittent renewable sources.
Round Financial system Framework: Implement a strong battery recycling and reuse ecosystem. India’s Battery Waste Administration Guidelines, 2022, make Prolonged Producer Duty (EPR) obligatory for battery producers to make sure environmentally sound administration.
The EU’s “Battery Passport” mannequin, which tracks the carbon footprint and lifecycle of batteries, could possibly be replicated in India to boost transparency.
Standardisation and Inexperienced Provide Chains: Set up a Nationwide EV Regulatory Authority to coordinate throughout ministries (Transport, Energy, Atmosphere, Business).
Incentivize Inexperienced Provide Chains and encourage localisation of essential parts and inexperienced logistics in PLI schemes.
India should develop strategic partnerships like Lithium-Cope with Argentina for moral sourcing of lithium, cobalt, and nickel with traceability.
Client Consciousness and Demand-Aspect Administration: Launch nationwide campaigns on monetary and environmental advantages of EVs (just like Ujala LED marketing campaign success).
Promote home-based charging options and sensible charging incentives to handle grid load.
City Planning and Sustainable Mobility Integration: Combine EV planning with NEMMP and Good Cities Mission.
Encourage mixed-use growth, NMT (non-motorized transport) integration, and EV-first zones in metropolis planning.
For instance Oslo’s low-emission zones and city-wide EV parking privileges scale back city air air pollution successfully.
Carbon Accounting and Environmental Monitoring: Set up a devoted environmental influence company for EVs to trace carbon emissions, life-cycle influence, and battery disposal.
Incorporate EVs into India’s carbon market framework, permitting tradable emission reductions. Align EV insurance policies with India’s Nationally Decided Contributions (NDCs) beneath the Paris Settlement.
Conclusion
To steadiness EV progress with environmental sustainability, India should transfer past simply electrification to inexperienced electrification. The main target should shift towards sustainable battery provide chains, clear energy, recycling, and built-in city planning. By studying from international leaders and tailoring insurance policies to India’s distinctive challenges, the nation can be sure that its EV revolution not solely reduces emissions but in addition creates a cleaner, round, and climate-resilient future.
Drishti Mines Query:
Regardless of their promise of unpolluted transport, Electrical Automobiles (EVs) have environmental drawbacks. Look at the ecological trade-offs related to EV progress in India.
UPSC Civil Providers Examination, Earlier 12 months Questions (PYQs)
Mains
Q. How is environment friendly and reasonably priced city mass transport key to the fast financial growth in India? (2019)
