How will electric cars change the future of personal transport in India?

Do you often find yourself complaining about how the weather wasn’t this hot last June? You’re not the only one doing so. The issue of climate change is getting more and more attention, thanks to its very apparent effects. And this is why electric cars are becoming the need of the hour.

India represents a particularly unique market for electric cars given that we have one of the lowest number of cars per capita in the world. But the growth in the number of car owners has been on a steady rise. This fact combined with the increasing awareness about the benefits of electric cars may ensure that the next generation car owners in our country are more likely to visit a charging station rather than a petrol pump. The government has recognised this and is fast-tracking the implementation of schemes that will aid the electric car industry within India.

Here are some of the reasons why electric cars are poised to make a big impact within the automobile industry and change the face of transportation entirely:

Environment-Friendly: Easily the first reason to own an electric car is the fact that they are not harmful to the environment at all. They have a zero-emission rate (even hybrid cars leave a carbon footprint) and are ideal for urban environments where they aid in preserving the natural composition of the air and contribute to reducing noise levels.

Cost-effective transportation: Electric cars are entirely charged by the electricity you provide, meaning you don’t need to buy any fuel like petrol or diesel. Driving fuel-based cars can burn a hole in your pocket as prices of fuel have increased. With electric cars, this cost can be avoided as an average Indian can spend more than ₹75,000 on fuel each year. Though electricity isn’t free, an electric car is far cheaper to run.

Safe to Drive: Electric cars undergo same fitness and testing procedures test as other fuel powered cars. In case an accident occurs, one can expect airbags to open and electricity supply to cut from the battery. This can prevent you (the driver) and other passengers in the car from serious injuries.

Low Maintenance: Absence of a combustion engine also does away with the need of lubricating it. An electric engine has fewer moving parts as well as fluids (oil and transmission fluid) compared to a combustion engine running on petrol or diesel so they require minimal scheduled maintenance. This has also brought down the maintenance cost of these cars.

Government Initiatives: The Government of India has tasked NITI Aayog to come up with incentives to promote electric cars. The proposed plans include a flat 3-year waiver from paying tolls or paying for parking along with a mandatory 10% reservation for electric cars in shopping malls, theatres and other infrastructures. Given a few more years and the increasing prices for petroleum products, the government is likely to increase subsidies for electric cars.

Not only are electric cars user-friendly, they are also the need of the hour considering the rapid deterioration of the environment. And maybe in the coming years, we’ll see more of those on the Indian roads as well. Your car may change, the way you drive may change but the trusted protection of Tata AIG car insurance will remain the same. With you, always.