Survey shows people believe electric vehicles best way to reduce air pollution

Eighty-seven percent of the respondents believe that the need for reducing air pollution is the best reason to purchase an electric vehicle, a survey commissioned by Climate Trends and carried out by FourthLion Technologies showed on Thursday.

The survey was conducted online from August 21-24 among 2,178 Indian drivers, vehicle owners and those who plan to purchase, own or drive a vehicle in the next 10 years.

Vehicles account for about 24 percent of India's carbon emissions and is a major source of air pollution in several cities across the country.

According to a recent WHO report, 14 of the top 20 most polluted cities of the world are in India.

The survey revealed that most drivers and vehicle owners are personally affected by poor air quality.

Seventy-six percent say they along with their neighbors, friends or family suffer from poor air quality every day or are starting to show symptoms of being affected by air pollution.

Delhi seemed to be worst affected with 91 percent of its respondents saying that they or people they know are suffering from poor air quality.

Similarly, high percentages were recorded in Hyderabad (78 percent), Chennai (75 percent), Mumbai (74 percent), Bangalore (71 per cent), and Kolkata (70 percent).

Drivers and vehicle owners say they are 'much more likely' to consider purchasing an electric vehicle after learning that 'electric vehicles reduce air pollution through zero on-road emissions' (72 percent) and after learning that 'recharging and driving an electric vehicle costs less per kilometer than fuelling and driving a petrol or diesel vehicle' (71 percent).

India is the third largest market for automobiles and the world's largest market when it comes to two-wheelers.

Over four million internal combustion engine vehicles were sold in India in 2017, and 81 percent of those sales (20 million units) came from the two-wheeler segment alone.

In comparison, according to data from the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles, less than a million electric vehicles were sold in India, of which 93 percent were electric three-wheelers.

The survey indicates very healthy awareness and potential willingness among the respondents to consider purchasing electric vehicles.

However, the respondents identified the lack of easily accessible charging infrastructure (59 percent) and limited driving range on current battery packs (46 percent) as their biggest objection towards adopting one.

"Since we invested in the technology we have often been told that we were making a big mistake betting on battery powered vehicles. And today with the world transitioning to the new normal, we are recognized as pioneers in electric vehicles," Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said.