A recent study done by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) challenged the claim that electronic cars are much more environment-friendly than conventional cars that have internal combustion engines along with hybrid vehicles.
The study was conducted by IIT Kanpur with assistance from a Japanese Organisation on electric, hybrid, and conventional cars. The study divides vehicles into three categories- Two foreign categories and one Indian category.
This will help calculate the vehicle’s Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
According to a report by the IIT Kanpur’s Engine Research Lab, the manufacturing, use and scrapping of electric cars produce 15-60 per cent more greenhouse gases than hybrid and conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.
In the per kilometre analysis, the purchase, maintenance and insurance of electronic vehicles are costlier by 15-60 per cent. The study showed that Hybrid are the most eco-friendly.
Professor Avinash Agarwal of IIT Kanpur conducted this study. As per his observations, Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) emit more than 15-60 per cent more greenhouse gases in different categories than other vehicles.
In the BEVs, the battery has to be charged with electricity, while currently, 75 per cent of electricity in the country is obtained from coal, which emits carbon dioxide (CO2). Similarly, the cost of buying, using, and maintaining electric vehicles is higher per kilometre than hybrid and conventional cars.
Whereas Hybrid Electric Vehicles emit the least amount of greenhouse gases of the other two categories of vehicles but are very expensive than the two categories of cars.
The reasons for Hybrid cars being expensive are attributed to high government taxes. The IIT report highlighted that hybrid cars should be taxed at par with battery vehicles if the government wants to promote clean technology. Hybrid cars get one and a half to twice the mileage per litre compared to conventional engine cars.
Professor Agarwal added that a car with a conventional engine is cheaper for personal use than a battery-driven car. But a battery-driven car is more efficient for taxi operators. Hybrid vehicles are best in terms of the environment.
In addition, there are also concerns regarding the pollution caused while disposing of these batteries after their life cycle and the use of rare earth elements in the manufacturing of electric car batteries. There are many human rights violations to source materials used in batteries like Cobalt.
All these factors combined, it is certainly complex to calculate and determine actual pollution caused by Battery Operated Electric Vehicles (BEV).
Interestingly, the report highlights that Battery Operated Vehicles continue to receive promotional incentives and lower taxes despite their negative environmental impact. This creates a paradoxical situation where policies designed to encourage cleaner technology might be inadvertently be contributing to greater harm. Hence, it is essential for policymakers to reconsider such incentives and align them with the actual environmental performance of different vehicle types.
To conclude, the study conducted by IIT Kanpur challenges the widely held belief that electric cars are inherently more environment-friendly than their hybrid and conventional counterparts. It also calls for a re-evaluation of policies and taxation structures to encourage the adoption of the most eco-friendly technologies available.
As the world continues to explore alternative energy sources, it is crucial to consider a comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact and cost implications when determining the most suitable transportation options for the future.
