Future Mobility Solutions of Indian Automotive Industry: BS-VI, Hybrid, and Electric Vehicles

Abstract

Worldwide scientists and researchers are concerned about climate change and global warming. Automotive vehicles are a major source for emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) and particulate matter (PM). Complying with strict BS-VI emission norms require improvised engine calibration, complex after-treatment (DOC, SCR, and DPF) system calibration, infrastructure development and engine validation. BS-VI will significantly reduce GHG and atmospheric PM, but with long-term perspective, an alternate solution is required to develop zero-emission vehicles. Recently, government planned to debar gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2030. In this scenario, Indian automotive industry has to be future-ready. The future disruptions in Indian automotive would include implementation of hybrid, electric, and fuel-cell vehicles. Government has started working in infrastructure development of hybrid and electric vehicles such as charging units, battery development, charging infrastructure development. However, currently hybrid and electric vehicles are significantly costlier and are required to be economically feasible. It can be assumed that conventional gasoline engines will be used in hybrid vehicles. Diesel engines would also be difficult to be phased out since implementation of hybrid/electric vehicles in long-haul vehicles and high-tonnage vehicles would remain challenging, where diesel engines are currently used virtually unchallenged by any other technology options.