Accelerating India’s electric vehicle revolution: Policy, sustainability, and the road ahead
- Nagarlok: Quarterly Journal of Urban Affairs
- 56(4), Dec, 2024: p.547-560
India’s journey towards electric vehicles (EVs) is not just an environmental necessity or an issue but also a strategic move to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, improve air quality, and foster economic growth through sustainable mobility solutions and dynamics. This paper elucidates the current landscape of EV adoption in India, analysing key policies such as the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) and the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP). It discusses the challenges of infrastructure, resource sustainability, and regulatory frameworks, while proposing key recommendations to enhance EV adoption, including f inancial incentives, localised manufacturing, and strengthened public-private collaborations. Moreover, the paper canvases the role of a circular economy for EVs, focusing on battery recycling and reuse to ensure long-term environmental benefits. As India works towards integrating EVs into public transportation systems and daily life, this paper elucidates the critical role of citizens, civil society, and corporate innovation in achieving a greener, more sustainable future for the nation.- Reproduced