New Delhi, November 13, 2017
A study conducted by the India Smart Grid Forum (ISGF) qualitatively discusses the implementation of electric vehicles and the challenges that the country would face if it had to go all electric. At the same time the study also proposes an integrated implementation guide for the electrification of public transport the city of Kolkata.
One of the study’s main objectives was to identify the best global practices and standards for EV charging and communication infrastructure to accelerate the deployment of electric buses, and review potential for electric rickshaws, electric taxis and electric ferries. After that they analysed India’s existing public transport and electricity distribution infrastructure. This would then accelerate the transition efficiently and economically.
The study then reviews and proposes an integrated approach comprising of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) or charging station infrastructure technologies and services, electric grid infrastructure, existing transportation considerations, and operation models to ensure maximum interoperability for different types of vehicles in congruence with the electric grid infrastructure.
The applications for meeting city-level, state-level, and national-level policy objectives have to be evaluated seeing as how the EV benefits span multiple national missions, policy objectives and ministries. After that the study aims to prepare an implementation guide for the electrification of public transport. It also aims to prepare a common analysis framework which can then be applied to other cities.
The study conducted a bottom-up analysis to recommend potential viable business models for public transportation (buses, three wheelers and ferries) that can be adopted without huge investment in infrastructure upgrades or subsidies to accommodate this electric mobility transformation. The report reviews global best practices, compares options in selecting key business and technical parameters (in each of the buses, three-wheelers and ferries segment), to leverage “Made in India” solutions. This exercise challenged not only many status quo concepts, but also questioned the need for India to summarily adopt western automotive designs and budgets, often resulting in a higher investment.
In India, transportation sector emissions is a significant contributor to the deteriorating air quality and human health in cities. Transportation accounts for 20 per cent of global energy use and it contributes 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the emissions. The gradually increasing momentum behind EV adoption – both from the government and the automotive industry– will ensure that electrification of transport sector will play an important role in Indian mobility going forward nurtured by policy support from Government.
EVs and supporting technologies and services represent new economic pathways in India to increase energy security (avoid oil imports), reduce carbon emissions or greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality which in turn results in better health. Indian cities represent a large unrealised economic, energy security, and decarbonisation opportunity among the rapidly accelerating automobile markets in world. India is home to 53 cities that has population of greater than a million. These prerogatives compel India to look at electric mobility options in its urban city core from a different perspective. While the challenges to transition towards electrification (policy, technology, infrastructure, and business models) from the existing internal combustion engine-centric (ICE) vehicles may seem daunting, the realised financial savings in imported fossil-based fuel, noise reduction, and air-quality improvements in inner cities can be significant.
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