I remember the first time I saw the Taj. I was only a small 10-year old standing before the magnificent architecture in its white marble on a beautiful clear summer day. The whole world flocks to Agra to have the privilege to see how Shah Jahan’s deep love for Mumtaz inspired one of the greatest wonders of the world. Today, the view of the Taj Mahal has changed drastically. The beautiful, pure white marble of India’s most celebrated monument is now turning brownish-yellow. The change in the Taj’s appearance is due to dust and carbon-containing particles from the burning of fossil fuels, biomass and garbage. As I stood in front of the Taj, all I could feel was sadness due to the grave realization that we are ruining everything beautiful that we have as a civilization—nature, art, and our very own people’s lives. I say “we” because the whole world has had a hand in air pollution whether it is visible in each respective country or not.
Following Diwali, the air quality in New Delhi visibly hit a record high with an AQI of 447. As a general rule of thumb, once the air reaches an AQI of 300, people are strongly urged to avoid all physical activity outdoors. I was fortunate to have air purifiers and shelter while those living in the slums across the street did not. The consequences of this heavy air pollution has severe implications for people past restricting their movements outside. Heavy with particulate matter, the air, a basic human need, causes respiratory problems, heart diseases and is carcinogenic. These effects are more rampant for the disadvantaged population due to their lack of resources to avoid excessive breathing of the air. While there is no single solution to this pressing problem, there are several initiatives which can work towards making the globe more livable for the future.
In 2013, India unveiled the “National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020” which states the country’s ambitious goal to become an 100% electric vehicle nation by 2030. Meanwhile, the government has been figuring out how to make this program self-financing without any need of government subsidies as given in the U.S. This is why I believe in the future of electric vehicles in India as a powerful initiative and business opportunity.
The Opportunity
While in New Delhi, I had the privilege to visit The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), a NGO founded by Tata that conducts research in the fields of energy, environment and sustainability solutions. Given the Indian government’s 2030 initiative to become an 100% electric car vehicle economy, I was interested to hear about Tata’s role in making that a reality and if Teri worked with Tata Motors. After talking to Sangeeta Paul from Teri, I was pleased to hear about the Tata Motors and TERI collaboration. The two entities have taken initiative to facilitate all stakeholders of the challenge to find sustainable fuels at economically viable costs as well as vehicle technologies. This was an important moment because it showed that the future of a significant electric vehicle market in India is a possibility and that there is substantial government support as they address air pollution head on.
If fifty lakh electric cars are rolled out onto India’s roads in the next three years, as planned by the Ministry of Road and Transport, up to two lakhs million tons of greenhouse gases would be reduced and roughly 9,500 million tons of fossil fuels would be saved. In addition to the environmental impact these initiatives can have, there is opportunity from a business perspective whether it be as a manufacturer of key EV components or as an electric vehicle transportation company. Of course the future success of electric vehicles is highly dependent on India’s ability to increase their solar capacity and infrastructure to support charging stations. In short, it is possible to be profitable yet make a significant social and environmental impact. Electric cars have the potential to save millions of lives from the harmful consequences of air pollution but only if they’re powered by renewable energy.
India is an incredibly beautiful and charming country. Even in the chaos and informality of the outdoor markets you can see the beauty of a vibrant culture. I hope the following generations will have the pleasure to walk down those streets under clear blue skies. The people have a basic need and right to clean, breathable air. This is why I am hopeful and excited for the future impact EVs can have for not only India but for the world.