Electric vehicles (EVs) have often been considered one of the more environmentally-friendly modes of transport due to their reduced dependency on fossil fuels. But in India’s auto industry context, Maruti Suzuki Chairman RC Bhargava contends hybrid cars may actually be less polluting. Maruti Suzuki currently offers two hybrid models – Invicto MPV and Grand Vitara SUV from their lineup – but has yet to enter EV territory.
Reasons Behind the Argue:
Electricity Generation Sources
India generates 76% of their electricity from coal while only 30% in Europe do; hybrid vehicles may actually emit less carbon due to coal’s greater carbon footprint – this fact should make hybrid vehicle ownership preferable due to emission credits available through incremental renewable energy production.
Indian renewables only increased by four or five percentage points over the past ten years; until an increasingly larger portion of electricity comes from renewable sources, their carbon footprint will remain large. Impact of Uttar Pradesh Government Decision:
Tax Waiver: In Uttar Pradesh, registration tax on hybrid cars was waived off by the government resulting in significant price drops for models like Maruti Invicto and Toyota HyCross MPVs (up to Rs 3 lakh) as well as SUVs like Grand Vitara and HyCross SUVs ( up to Rs 2 lakh).
This decision represents recognition of hybrid cars as less polluting, and represents a strategic move to decrease carbon emissions and oil imports. Bhargava’s Perspective: Multipronged Approach: Bhargava emphasizes using multiple technologies together in order to effectively curb carbon emissions.
Hybrid cars provide an immediate solution to reduced emissions when operating within India’s coal-dependent electricity grid, and may remain more eco-friendly than electric vehicles in India’s near term view until more renewable sources of power enter its markets.
Transitioning towards more sustainable energy sources is vital if EVs are to fulfill their potential as the greenest mode of transport.
Conclusion:
Given India’s heavy reliance on coal for electricity generation, hybrid vehicles represent an economically and less pollutant option to electric vehicles in terms of both practicality and pollutant emissions levels. Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava emphasizes the necessity of taking multipronged approaches in order to effectively mitigate carbon emissions with existing infrastructure being leveraged along with gradual transition to renewable sources as part of their carbon reduction strategies.
