This article aims to create awareness of the serious effect of climate change and a request to participate in the Green Revolution. 

The global mean temperature has risen by 1°C over the past 120 years, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels. Over the next 20 years, the global average temperature will rise by 0.2 - 0.4°C per decade. Other key environmental problems include increasing air, water, and marine pollution, and elevated levels of particulate matter represent a health hazard, particularly in cities in developing and emerging countries. In 2010, NASA declared that the world's largest climate change pollution contributor was automobiles. 

 

Effect of Climate Change in India 

Over the last two decades, droughts and floods have become increasingly frequent across India. In just the last 15 years, India's annual average number of drought-affected districts has increased 13-fold, affecting 140 million people annually.  

At the same time, flood events have risen fourfold, with 98 million Indians affected yearly. The effects of climate change are already being felt around the globe, and India ranks seventh on the list of countries expected to be the most affected by global warming.  

It faced eight tropical cyclones in 2019, with six classified as "very severe." The total damage was estimated at $10 billion, with intense rainfall and floods affecting around 11.8 million people. More than 75 percent of India's districts—home to 638 million people, or 1.4 times the population of the European Union (EU) are categorized as hotspots for extreme climate events. This risk is likely to be aggravated if timely measures are not taken. 

 

India's Climate Commitments 

As the World moves towards a more sustainable future, in COP 26(Conference of Parties-United Nations Climate Change Conference), India committed to the "Panchamrit Strategy." 

• Reduce total projected carbon emissions by one billion tones from now onwards till 2030 
• By 2030, India will meet 50% of its energy requirement from renewable energy 
• Non-fossil energy capacity will reach 500 GW by 2030 
• Carbon intensity of the economy will be reduced to less than 45% by 2030 
• By 2070, India will achieve the target of Net Zero 

  

The latest happening has been India dropping the target on reduction of cumulative emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030. Also, the two targets on the percentage and capacity of renewables have been merged into a single clear target for renewable power.  

The cabinet approved these targets in August 2022. The Net Zero Emissions Bill 2022 was introduced in Rajya Sabha on December 09, 2022. The bill provides a framework for achieving net zero emissions by 2070 as per India's nationally determined contributions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 

 

Automotive/Surface Transport in the Next Few Years  

Government policies, incentives, OEM investments, actions, and recommendations are rapidly moving toward the Green Shift: 

2-Wheelers and 3-Wheeler 

• Standardization of EV-2wheeler shall be ensured for the build-up of charging and promote battery swapping 
• EVs are to be promoted as the optimal solution in preparing for phasing out internal combustion engine two/three wheelers by 2035. In the intermediate period, policy support for ethanol-blended fuel with an increasing blend ratio needs to be given 

 

  4-Wheelers 

• Four-wheelers, including passenger cars and taxis, to partially shift to electric and partially to ethanol blended petrol with almost 50% share in each category 
• Along with 40% ethanol vehicles, required engine modification changes by OEMs and emission standards revision shall be addressed 
• Diesel-drive 4-wheelers are to be eliminated as soon as possible. Therefore, a ban on diesel-powered four-wheelers in major cities and towns with high pollution shall be enforced by2027 
• Long-term focus on transitioning to EVs with CNG as transition fuel for the next ten years 
• Vehicles with flex-fuel capabilities and hybrids may be promoted in the short and medium terms 

  

City Buses 

No diesel city buses addition be allowed in urban areas to drive towards a "transition towards clean fuel urban public transport in about ten years." 

 

Inter City Buses 

Shift towards all-electric buses with CNG/LNG as transition fuels, where CBG also needs to serve as a supplement. Long term focus is on shifting to railways and other mass transit modes. 

 

Ecosystem 

More EV promotion and support are focused on immediate emission control, ethanol mixed petrol, CNG & LPG, biodiesel, and synthetic fuels vis GTL process. 

However, Green Hydrogen is the ultimate target. 

 

Challenges Ahead 

• With the increasing EV vehicle production, there is a need to increase the production of electricity and provide a grid to expand EV charging infrastructure 
• Focus on R&D to produce renewable energy and reduce the cost of production 
• Standardization of EV batteries 2-4 wheelers to enable the proper EV charging infrastructure 
• OEMs focus on the proper mix of EV vehicles and the new fuel mix 
• With the increasing cost of EV vehicles, suitable finance options to encourage retail 

  

Green Hydrogen

The National Green Hydrogen Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 January 2022, with the intended objective of making India a leading producer and supplier of Green Hydrogen in the world and creating export opportunities for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.  

Currently, the main concerns around scaling green hydrogen are the high cost of production and dependency on advanced, efficient electrolyzers. However, the government seems confident that these will likely become cost-effective soon.  

According to the recent trends and analysis, the mission document claimed that driven by technology advancements, reduction in costs of renewable energy and electrolyzers, and aggressive national strategies by some of the major economies, green hydrogen is likely to become cost-competitive in applications across industry, mobility, and other sectors within a short span. 

However, to meet the ever-growing zero/low carbon energy demands of a growing economy like India, a substantial increase in clean energy output means wind and energy capacity have to increase by nearly twice the speed of the current pace. This is no mean challenge, as switching towards renewable energy options would be possible only when the core problem of intermittent is addressed.  

To solve the intermittency issue of renewable energy, gas can play the most influential role besides being a source of meeting low carbon base load energy requirements. Hence, despite being a fossil fuel, gas is likely to play a defining role in the transition journey because of its lower carbon intermittent. 

  

  

  

 

This article was contributed by our expert Balakrishna B V
 

 

Frequently Asked Questions Answered by Balakrishna B V

1. What are the major challenges faced by the Indian automotive sector in transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable technologies?

Digitization 

Digitization has penetrated every area as OEMs continue to work to strengthen the connection with customers—via the connected car. But many technology questions are still to be answered, while the transition to electrification continues to pose challenges.  

However, there are many more concerns.  

Infrastructure issues, from EV and wireless charging to V2X and, especially,vehicle-to-grid implementation, are top of mind for many.  

Research and Development 

Need for more R&D to innovate and upgrade technology, Achieve the idea of Atmanirbharta or self-reliance to bridge the demand and supply gap, to reduce import costs. Auto clusters should become self-reliant in producing newer components to meet the existing transition. 

 

2. What are the implications of using ethanol-blended fuel for the automotive industry and its transition towards net-zero emissions?

Ethanol-blended petrol is set to reduce the country's oil import cost, boost energy security, and lower carbon emissions, providing environmental and fiscal advantages. 

“Higher reductions in Carbon Monoxide emissions were observed with E20 fuel – 50% lower in two-wheelers and 30% lower in four-wheelers. Compared to normal gasoline, hydrocarbon emissions are reduced by 20% with ethanol blends. Plans are ahead on 85% ethanol. This will partly address the core problem of intermittent on our journey to net zero. OEMs need to upgrade the technology for the new fuel transition to reduce vehicle maintenance costs and the fuel efficiency impact. 

 

3. How does the concept of circular economy and sustainable materials factor into the green shift and net-zero aspirations of the Indian automotive industry?

India's rapidly evolving market and high potential for development can provide a competitive advantage over mature economies. The aspirational long-term vision of a circular economy is based on the current strengths of the Indian market and the integration of diverse stakeholders that has the potential to pave the way for fast-tracked, sustainable, and resilient prosperity.  

Circular economy advancements will improve urban and agricultural economies' resilience and provide benefits such as climate mitigation, food, and water security, increased biodiversity, job creation, and empowerment of underprivileged communities. Transitioning to a circular economy necessitates a comprehensive and systematic roadmap implementation.  

The net-zero future is such a significant necessity that it will affect every aspect of our daily lives. As a result, start-ups will have a plethora of opportunities, ranging from plant-based proteins and carbon emission trackers to electric vehicles and new battery technologies, involving waste management in the design phase to assist in closing the loop and contributing to a more sustainable plan. 

 

4. How can the Indian automotive industry leverage green hydrogen as a sustainable fuel source to drive the transition towards net-zero emissions?

Considering the nascent status of the sector and the rapidly evolving profile of the industry, the mission is proposed to be implemented in a phased manner, focusing initially on the deployment of Green Hydrogen in sectors that are already using hydrogen and evolving an ecosystem for R&D, regulations, and pilot projects.  

The later phase of the mission will build on these foundational activities and undertake Green Hydrogen initiatives in new sectors of the economy. By 2030 path will be much clear. 

 

5. What infrastructure investments and developments are required to support the widespread use of green hydrogen and effectively reduce carbon emissions in the Indian automotive sector?

Green hydrogen is achieved through a process of electrolysis powered by renewable energies such as wind or solar. Electrolysis involves using an electrical current to break down the water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen by electrodes. 

Infrastructure includes pipelines, liquefaction plants, trucks, storage facilities, compressors, and dispensers involved in delivering fuel. 

A hydrogen infrastructure is the infrastructure of hydrogen pipeline transport, points of hydrogen production, and hydrogen stations (sometimes clustered as a hydrogen highway) for distribution and the sale of hydrogen fuel, thus a crucial prerequisite before the successful commercialization of automotive fuel. 

The rising popularity of green hydrogen in the country would lead to an investment of about `16 trillion over the next decade across the value chain.