The costs of EV vehicles are high, charging stations are few, charging speeds low. Lithium-ion and other chemicals have to be imported and there are concerns about the environmental impact of battery production.
Jan 4, 2025 09:04 IST First published on: Jan 4, 2025 at 07:50 IST
Delhi, which faces perennial pollution problems, can reap significant economic, social, and environmental benefits by converting all vehicles into electric vehicles (EVs). Studies show that an increase in PM 2.5 emissions leads to premature deaths and high economic costs.
Our recent study, ‘Emissions of Particulate Matters and Impact of EV Transition and Healthcare Benefits in Delhi’, estimates that the transport sector accounts for 48.37 Gg of PM2.5 every year. Cars, comprising 32.44 per cent of the fleet, have a 25.54 per cent share of total emissions. Commercial vehicles make up just 2.56 per cent of the total fleet but they are responsible for nearly 39 per cent of total transport emissions. Two-wheelers dominate the fleet — 61.84 per cent — but their emission share is relatively low.
Crop burning in Punjab and Haryana, a seasonal phenomenon that adds to Delhi’s air pollution, has decreased significantly in the last four years. Yet air quality remains a serious cause of concern. Delhi adopted CNG vehicles more than two decades ago, which yielded significant benefits. These vehicles, however, emit NOx and add to ozone pollution. They are also secondary PM emitters under certain meteorological conditions.
Having identified the transport sector as the single biggest polluter, we explored alternatives to fossil fuel-driven vehicles. We analysed the environmental and economic benefits of transitioning to EVs in Delhi and found the shift can drastically reduce healthcare spending and improve air quality.
Based on calculations of vehicular emissions in 2023, we investigated all potential interventions to assess the impact of EV adoption, including converting all cars to EVs, all LCVs and buses to this cleaner mode of power, and shifting all vehicles in Delhi to EVs. Replacing cars older than 15 years to EVs could lead to a nearly 9 per cent reduction in PM 2.5 concentration and a 6 per cent saving in per capita healthcare costs. By achieving complete EV adoption, Delhi can reduce its PM 2.5 concentration by nearly 40 per cent. Mortality-related costs will fall by 25.7 per cent reduction, there will be a 2.54 per cent decrease in economic costs imposed by pollution-related diseases and a more than 25 per cent fall in per capita healthcare costs.
Our estimation of monetary losses factors in the relationship between emissions, concentration of pollutants and health impacts to quantify the benefits of transitioning to EVs. A modelling study conducted in Delhi showed that a 20 per cent reduction in PM 2.5 emissions caused an equivalent of 20 per cent reduction in ambient PM 2.5 concentration. Our study shows that a complete transition to EVs in Delhi can lead to savings of Rs 11,000 crore.
Delhi introduced an EV policy in 2020, which was extended to 2025 last year. The Delhi government offers subsidies of up to Rs 30,000 for two-wheelers and Rs 1.5 lakh for electric cars, based on battery capacity. The policy also envisages installing 25 new charging stations across the city.
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However, there are serious challenges in a complete transition to EVs. The costs of EV vehicles are high, charging stations are few, charging speeds low. Lithium-ion and other chemicals have to be imported and there are concerns about the environmental impact of battery production. Consumer awareness is also low.
A complete transition to EVs will therefore take time. Our studies show that there are compelling reasons to make a start in 2025. A shift to EVs can significantly reduce the disability-adjusted life years — in terms of mortality and morbidity — and lower per capita increase in healthcare spending. The shift will also address climate concerns. It’s, therefore, a win-win proposition for the environment.
The writer is chair professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, IISc, and founder project director, SAFAR
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