Energetica India Magazine May-June 2021

The Indian economy is at a cusp of a rev- olution. With a growing sense of self-reli- ance and national pride, India has the po- tential to bring about a positive change in the economy, particularly in sectors that have always relied on imports. The ques- tion that needs to be asked then, is how can advanced solutions like electric vehi- cles and retrofitting boost India’s econo - my as well as efficiency in transportation. Need for Localization in EV Supply Chain The Indian government has set a lofty tar- get for electric vehicles (EVs), with aims to dramatically reduce carbon emissions from diesel and gasoline engines by 2030. As a result, the country is taking measures to convert to electric vehicles. However, this transformation cannot take place at a rapid pace. The nation must concentrate on reducing its carbon footprint in order to achieve its goal by converting the existing ICE vehicles into 100% electric ones. Retrofitting extends a vehicle’s life by 5-7 years and exempts it from the current scrappage scheme. It is projected that by 2030, there will be about 3 million buses on Indian roads. The amount of other public transporta- tion would increase at a similar pace. Our city roads will become congested if we simply add more electric public cars to the existing fleet in the name of reducing carbon emissions. Thus, adding a small number of electric vehicles when retrofit - ting existing vehicles to electric models is a feasible option. Not only will it keep the vehicle count under control, but it will also reduce automotive emissions. To compete in the global automotive market, India’s industry must step-up and produce high-quality, cost-effective goods. Only by developing the EV eco- system locally– R&D and design, bat- tery manufacturing, traction motors and their components, power electronics, software, and so on – can India, truly, become “Atmanirbhar” and competi- tive in the EV space. This will allow us to be self-sufficient, as well as resolve the Indian consumer’s price sensitivity. Giv - en the vast differences in infrastructure alongside weather and conditions, some products or components designed for European or American roads will not nec- essarily function in India. Keeping these factors in mind, they should be localised and indigenized. In order to build a localised solution for electric buses and freight vehicles, we need a pool of dedicated capital and resources in India. To meet the techno- logical and commercial needs of Indian consumers, an amalgamation of best technology and Indian localization must be developed. Third-party logistics firms, fleet operators, major corporations, state transportation agencies, etc should also electrify their bus and truck fleets. Government policy/ frameworks for retrofitting To minimise the annual carbon emis- sions, India is proactively moving forward with the implementation of the National E-Mobility Program that aims to have 30 per cent of vehicles on the road, to be electric vehicles by 2030. To this end, India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has ordered major oil companies to install electric vehicle charging infra- structure in nearly 1,000 fuel stations across the country. Alongside focusing on EV/hybrid sales for new vehicles, existing on-road vehi- cles must be retrofitted immediately to mitigate the negative effects of ICE. The installation of hybrid retrofit kits is a con - venient method of retrofitting. Hybrid ret - rofits are quickly becoming economically viable. With simple installation mecha- nisms that provide significant savings to consumers, they lower the overall cost of ownership. The capital costs of these devices are usually recovered in a few years due to significant improvements in mileage. Economic benefits are combined with a nearly 20% reduction in CO2 emissions and a significant reduction in overall tail - pipe emissions. Retrofitted vehicles emit less particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2) than conventional vehicles as they use Make in India in the Automobile Sector ELECTRIC VEHICLES Karan Shah Executive Director, Precision Camshafts Ltd & EMOSS Mobile Systems BV India must concentrate on reducing its carbon footprint in order to achieve its goal by converting the existing ICE vehicles into 100% electric ones. Retrofitting extends a vehicle’s life by 5-7 years and exempts it from the current scrappage scheme. 34 energetica INDIA- May-June_2021