Impact of electric passenger cars in India: A review

Abstract

India, like any other country, in the world is concerned about increasing air pollution arising out of CO2 emissions from use of cars and vehicles. The government has been promoting use of electric vehicles and is likely to announce a full proof policy. However, several factors such as cost of production, growing prices of battery and environmental concerns arising out of battery waste are likely to be elements that will lead to limits to growth of e-cars (electric cars or electric vehicles) in the country. In this paper, a study has been made regarding projection of growth of electric vehicles (EV) and the causes that may hinder such a growth. Results show that leading car manufacturer is apprehensive about keeping the price of car in the range affordable by the Indian customers; companies worldwide are concerned about economic viability and technical feasibility of recycling battery waste; the battery charging infrastructure and the damage that the environment is also likely to sustain due to mining of lithium and cobalt. Keywords: Electric Vehicles, Passenger Car, Growth, Cost, Cobalt, Environment, Limits to growth.