Smart mobility options are essential and it can support the concept of smart cities. Correlating to the futuristic concept of smart living, electric vehicles will be the chosen option for Smart City transportation. The automotive sector in India is preparing to deliver best Electric Vehicles and evolving best transportation modes for Smart Cities.
To quote a good example on electric vehicles would be BMW’s i3, the quintessential automotive brands first electric vehicle. Such futuristic offerings from top automotive houses can help slash down the consumption of fossil fuels helping curb the energy crisis to a great extend while also offering the public an innovative transportation mode. The Electric Vehicle i3 has proven to be efficient and reliable transportation option. On full charge, it can travel up to 100 miles. Besides BMW, automotive leader, Schneider Electric is also introducing EVs and researching on the application of EVs and integration of these futuristic vehicles in smart cities plan. With the successful introduction of Smart City concept and integration of EVs in Amsterdam and Singapore, there are plenty of tech-savvy supporters for the adaption of these concepts in India.
Smart mobility ecosystem can be the best addition to complement the smart city concept. Though investment in electric grids seems essential, the benefits of the EVs, their role in mitigating pollution, best mobility convenience all seem to be an array of factors fuelling interests of the majority for implementing EVs.
There are different kinds of EVs available from two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers and electric buses. In the crowded and congested Indian urban locales, Electric buses seems the best option for the affordability and also the ability to commute large number of passengers and connecting two important locales. Researches are carried out to improve EVs. Normally, efficient batteries are fitted in EVs for its functioning; however, in the recent years better and efficient, low cost batteries are fitted in the vehicles to improve its performance. With innovative battery technologies EVs are plying successfully in France and other developed countries. In European countries about 2, 000 charging points are introduced and EVs are functioning successfully in these locations. With best batteries, full-time charge can be acquired at these points and EVs can ply most efficiently. In 2011, Europe’s first Electric Taxi company was inaugurated in Amsterdam successfully. In the same year, more than 700 electric vehicles were introduced on the road.
With the record of high pollution in India, EVs can bring in marked improvements for the environment and curb pollution easily. It is noted that introduction of EVs can slash down pollution by 50 percent. With its benefits for the environment and potential to prevent the congestion in over-populated cities, EVs are among the top solutions for low environmental pollution. Installation of charging points with fast chargers and cutting down non-renewable fuel usage are all among positive factors that are increasing the preference of EVs over the common modes of transportation. With its advantages such as eco-friendliness, low fuel cost, low maintenance expenses weighing high, Indian government is considering EV’s and planning to offer subsidies for the introduction of EVs in the country. Research on batteries offering high energy and efficiency, low costs are also under good consideration. Soon, the country may be fortunate to get its electric rickshaws for public utility. States such as Karnataka, Delhi, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Uttarkhand are enthusiastic to adapt the Electric Vehicles policies, plan the futuristic transportation mode and curb vehicular pollution to the largest extent. With large investments, these states are deemed to be the harbingers of the innovative, futuristic mobility solutions in India.