Electric Vehicles: Revolutionizing
Transportation
By- Sanchit Kumar Ojha, Dipesh Kumar, Sankalp Chamoli, Devansh Walia
Introduction
The transportation sector stands at the cusp of a
monumental shift, one that promises to redefine the way we
move people and goods: the rise of electric vehicles (EVs). As
the world grapples with the urgent need to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change, EVs
have emerged as a beacon of hope, offering a cleaner, more
sustainable alternative to traditional internal combustion
engine vehicles. This essay delves into the transformative
potential of electric vehicles, examining their environmental
benefits, technological advancements, market dynamics, and
the challenges they face in achieving widespread adoption.
What are Electric Vehicles(EV)?
Electric vehicles (EVs) are vehicles that use electric motors for
propulsion, instead of gasoline. They can be powered by a
battery, or by converting fuel to electricity using a generator
or fuel cells. EVs have a driving range of 80 to over 300 miles,
and can accelerate faster than vehicles with traditional fuel
engines. They also produce zero tailpipe emissions, and are
considered an eco-friendly alternative to traditional vehicles.
Types of Electric Vehicles -:
Vehicles that operate on electricity rather than petrol or
diesel fuel are known as electric vehicles (EVs). There are
several EV kinds, each with a unique engine and settings.
According to their engine technology and settings, electric
cars are categorized in the following manner-:
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
Battery Electric vehicles (BEVs): Rechargeable batteries are
the only power source for BEVs, which are electric
automobiles. They don’t have a backup generator or a petrol
engine. Due to their lack of exhaust emissions, BEVs are
regarded as the most ecologically beneficial form of electric
car. However, they have a constrained driving range because
the battery must be recharged.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs): HEVs are electric cars with
petrol engines and electric motors. An electric motor propels
the car at low speeds and during acceleration. The petrol
engine takes over at higher speeds and when greater power
is required. Because HEVs utilize regenerative braking to
recharge their batteries, they do not require plugging in.
Although they use less fuel than conventional petrol cars,
they have some exhaust emissions.
Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) with bigger batteries that can
be recharged by plugging a charging cable into an external
electric power source in addition to internally by their on-
board internal combustion engine-powered generator are
called plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). They have a
finite range of operations on electric power before switching
to the petrol engine. PHEVs provide the ease of daily driving
without a plug while allowing for electricity usage or on short
journeys.
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)
Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs): FCEVs react hydrogen gas
with oxygen in the air to create power. They don’t have a
battery, and their sole waste is water vapour. Although FCEVs
can be refuelled in a few minutes and have a greater driving
range than BEVs, there is still a lack of hydrogen refuelling
infrastructure.
Extended Range Electric Vehicles (ER-EVs)
Extended Range Electric Vehicles (ER-EVs) are a type of
electric vehicle that combines the features of a Battery
Electric Vehicle (BEV) and a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
(PHEV). ER-EVs have a larger battery pack than PHEVs, which
allows them to travel longer distances on electric power
alone. However, once the battery is depleted, a small
gasoline engine generates electricity to power the electric
motor and extend the vehicle’s range.
ER-EVs are becoming more popular as they offer the benefits
of both BEVs and PHEVs. They can be driven purely on
electric power for shorter trips and travel long distances
without stopping and recharging the battery. ER-EVs are also
more environmentally friendly than traditional gasoline-
powered vehicles as they produce fewer emissions.
Challenges of Implementing Electric Vehicles-:
Public sector operators in the EV market include utilities,
state and municipal governments, and private sector players,
including EV service contributors, fleet workers, and
individual car holders. Variable adopters, such as private
automobile owners, managers of private business fleets, and
public fleets, make varied operational decisions. Following
the types and distribution of adopters, at-home charging,
public
charging, and battery-swapping stations should be optimized
for the charging models. The customer type is also connected
to incentive programs and infrastructure deployment. An
overview of the EV service industry’s members and some of
the key problems they deal with is shown below-:
The EV sector differs from the traditional ICV industry in
several ways, making challenges with growing EV service
operations more difficult. Below is a summary of these broad
problems.
1. Charging Infrastructure: EV-related technologies are still
developing; hence, their future course is yet unknown. For
instance, one of the most important elements influencing
EV acceptance is the battery performance, which is still not
at its peak. Despite recent advancements in the
construction of charging infrastructure, it is still not as
accessible or practical as conventional petrol stations. This
can make it challenging for EV drivers to locate charging
outlets when needed, especially when traveling long
distances or in remote places. The speed of battery
recharging is another ambiguous technological aspect. It
has long been anticipated that fast and secure charging
will let Electric vehicles replace Individually Constructed
Vehicles. Global-scale fast charging would, however,
increase the stress on the electric grid and, as a result,
pose several stability issues for power systems. Another
source of misunderstanding in technical standards are
those for charging interface standards. Prior agreement on
recharging standards will be essential for developing the
EV market, as more diverse standards require more
significant infrastructure expenditure. Additionally, many
charging standards make producing their goods more
challenging for EV suppliers and automakers.
2. Interconnected Public Policies: The EV industry is still in its
infancy, given the total dominance of Individually
Constructed Vehicles in the international car market. The
public sector has a crucial role in encouraging the use of
EVs. Many nations are implementing various policies to
make it easier for EVs to be introduced and consolidated
into the market. These rules and associated laws cover
gasoline taxation, carbon emission controls, public
charging infrastructure, monetary incentives and public
subsidies, and support for electric vehicle study and
development. Incorporating three interconnected factors
—investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure,
state subsidies, and public acceptance of EVs—will help to
increase EV adoption. Various new decision-making
difficulties must be resolved for these policies to be
successfully implemented. Public policymaking is
complicated and made more difficult by the high levels of
uncertainty and market dynamics for EVs.
3. Range Anxiety: Range anxiety, the fear of running out of
battery charge before reaching a destination, remains a
significant barrier to EV adoption. While advancements in
battery technology have extended the range of EVs,
achieving parity with traditional internal combustion
engine vehicles is still a challenge. Addressing range
anxiety requires not only improving battery technology but
also expanding charging infrastructure and educating
consumers about charging options and range capabilities.
4. Cost: EVs typically have higher upfront costs compared to
conventional vehicles, primarily due to the cost of
batteries. Although prices have been declining as battery
technology improves and economies of scale are realized,
EVs still remain out of reach for many consumers,
especially in developing countries. Government incentives
such as subsidies, tax credits, and rebates can help offset
the higher cost of EVs and stimulate demand.
5. Battery Technology: While lithium-ion batteries have
become the standard for EVs, further advancements are
needed to enhance energy density, reduce charging times,
and lower costs. Research and development efforts are
ongoing to develop next-generation battery technologies,
such as solid-state batteries and lithium-sulphur batteries,
which could offer improved performance and affordability.
However, scaling up production and ensuring the
sustainability of battery materials remain key challenges.
6. Supply Chain Constraints: The global supply chain for EV
components, including batteries, electric motors, and
power electronics, faces challenges such as raw material
shortages, production bottlenecks, and geopolitical
tensions. Ensuring a stable and resilient supply chain is
crucial to meet growing demand for EVs and avoid
disruptions that could hamper industry growth.
7. Grid Integration: The widespread adoption of EVs poses
challenges to the electricity grid, particularly in terms of
managing increased electricity demand and peak loads.
Smart charging solutions, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology,
and grid upgrades are needed to optimize EV charging,
minimize grid impacts, and support renewable energy
integration. Coordination between utilities, regulators, and
EV manufacturers is essential to ensure grid reliability and
stability.
8. Consumer Awareness and Acceptance: Many consumers
still have concerns about EVs related to range, charging
infrastructure, upfront costs, and vehicle performance.
Educating consumers about the benefits of EVs, dispelling
myths, and addressing common misconceptions are
essential to increase awareness and acceptance. Providing
test drives, incentives, and subsidies can help overcome
barriers to adoption and encourage consumers to switch
to electric vehicles.
Current State of Electric Vehicle and India on EV map
The bandwidth of the logistics and supply chain industry is
expanding with the widening spectrum of Last-mile-
delivery. In the wake of the pandemic, there has been an
abrupt rise in direct-to-consumer selling, home deliveries,
and hyperlocal deliveries. It is putting too much pressure
on the environment. However, many logistics and supply
chain enterprises are making conscious efforts to adopt
sustainable business practices to reduce their carbon
footprints.
More than 175 of the world’s most powerful companies
are already part of RE100. It is a global initiative bringing
together hundreds of businesses committed to 100%
renewable electricity. Google, 3M, Barclays, Apple, and
Adobe are some of the ambitious companies.
Amazon Inc. has committed to run on 100% renewable
energy by 2030. They also pledged to include 1,00,000 E-
vans for its Prime deliveries. Home-grow e-commerce
giant Flipkart has also planned to transition to 100%
adoption of EVs for deliveries by 2030. Logistics giants such
as FedEx and DHL have already adopted green logistics
practices and have seen a significant increase in fuel
efficiency.
Taking a giant leap of transitioning to EVs is not possible
without Government support. European countries like
France, UK, Sweden and Norway are actively working to
electrify transportation. China is, however, leading the
race in terms of Infrastructure and accessibility of EVs. The
Biden Government has focused on EV infra in his $2 trillion
infrastructure plan.
Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari
said that the Union government plans for electric vehicles
to form 30% of all private cars, 70% commercial vehicles,
40% buses, and 80% two-and three-wheeler sales by 2030.
Apart from the central government, state governments are
also working towards paving the way for e-mobility. In the
first phase of the Delhi EV Policy, they aim at installing 500
EV charging points at 100 different locations across Delhi.
In April 2021, Mahindra and Mahindra had also pledged to
invest Rs 3000 Cr in Electric Vehicles in the next three
years.
Benefits of Switching to EV-:
Lower Carbon Footprint
The logistics industry is heavily dependent on fuel throughout
the levels of the supply chain. Switching to EV from fuel-
based vehicles can drastically reduce the number of carbon
footprints produced by the logistics sector.
Economical
It’s no brainer that fuel makes a significant contribution to
the logistics cost. Moving to green logistics will reduce fuel
consumption, therefore, slashing overall operations costs.
Gone are the days when investing in EVs would cost you a
fortune.
Ease of Maintenance
Yes, you read it right! EVs are low maintenance. They do not
need as many sophisticated parts to operate. The only major
expenses with EVs are battery replacement and electricity bill
for charging, which is way lesser than what we spend on ICE
Vehicles.
The Potential of EV
There is no running away from the fact that shifting to e-
mobility has now become imperative more than ever. The
government participation and support from the corporates
are paving the way for e-mobility to mark a breakthrough.
There have been talks of including EVs in last-mile deliveries
by the big and small enterprises. On the other hand, Green
logistics efforts by influential enterprises like DHL, Amazon,
FedEx and Walmart are making a bigger impact at large.
Automobile giants like Volvo and Tesla are venturing into
launching heavy-duty EV trucks. In terms of Indian
enterprises, Tata Motors, Bharat Benz, Mahindra and
Mahindra and Olectra have launched their commercial EVs
with government authorities.
Public transport like buses, taxis, and 3-wheelers can easily
be replaced with EVs. Postal trucks, Garbage vans and
delivery vehicles are some other sectors that the government
can focus on in the first phase of the transition. It will not be
wrong to say that EV is the future of transportation.
Looking at the rising popularity of EVs in the supply chain and
the logistics sector, we have also geared up for the e-change.
TrackoBit is happy to announce that our team is all set to
launch EV Fleet Management Solution in the near future.
