New Delhi
The concerns over climate change and the need to reduce the overall carbon footprint have become a pressing issue across the globe, and sustainability is now increasingly becoming the primary focus of individuals, businesses, and governments. In such a scenario, to tackle environmental challenges, electric vehicles are starting to play a key role and are gradually getting integrated into the sustainability strategies of business operations. Although clean mobility is not the absolute solution for eliminating emissions, it can safely be stated that implementing strategies to increase the penetration of electric vehicles, along with other actions to address climate change, can be the most effective tool in the country’s sustainability toolkit.
Carbon footprint is the tool to calculate the amount of greenhouse gasses generated by any activity, and organizations keep track of their carbon footprint to identify and quantify sources of emissions and get actionable insights to reduce them. By analyzing their carbon footprint, organizations can strategize and adopt sustainability strategies to help them not only to develop quality products or extend a great service but also do it in a socially conscious manner.
There are several sustainable ways that businesses and individuals can adapt to contribute towards addressing climate change issues, and one of the most simple and effective strategies in that direction can be the adoption of electric vehicles. There has been an increased number of vehicles on Indian roads these days, and internal combustion engine (ICE) based vehicles contribute to 70 per cent of the overall transport emission, making transportation one of the core reasons behind increased carbon emission. The impact of emissions on the environment can be significantly controlled and reduced by enabling a faster penetration of electric vehicles, which account for minimal emission of greenhouse gases.
EVs are generally more energy-efficient than conventional vehicles because they convert a higher percentage of energy from the grid to power at the wheels. This efficiency leads to lower overall energy consumption and reduced emissions per kilometer driven. While it’s essential to consider emissions during vehicle use, the entire lifecycle of a vehicle should be analyzed. When taking into account emissions from manufacturing, operation, and end-of-life recycling, EVs often have a lower carbon footprint than traditional vehicles, particularly as the electricity grid decarbonizes.
As electric vehicles are becoming the most effective transportation method to reduce carbon emissions, India’s electric vehicle manufacturers now offer high autonomy for daily travel. In line with the pursuit to achieve sustainable development goals, businesses must switch to electric vehicles as employees’ daily commutes increase their carbon footprint, affecting the organization. Also, businesses have various vehicles such as trucks, passenger cars, and distribution vehicles and making these vehicles green can become a major contributor to a sustainable future of the country.
It has now become critical for businesses to steadily incorporate EVs and EV charging infrastructures in their business strategy and get closely associated with EV manufacturers to understand the relevance of clean technologies and the role they could play in combating environmental impact. Even by installing a few charging points in the work premises, organizations can bring in a significant impact to reduce emissions. The move will also showcase that the business supports environment-friendly technologies; which in the long run will indicate to the employees, business partners, and customers that the company encourages and adopts a globally responsible behavior. Promoting EV usage and charging stations in the workplace can attract and retain good employees, attracting millennials who value socially conscious work and this value is crucial in a competitive job market. Many regions and countries are implementing stricter emissions regulations and incentives to promote EV adoption. By proactively adopting EVs, businesses can ensure compliance with current and future environmental regulations.
Also, over the long run, operating EVs can be more cost-effective than conventional vehicles. EVs have Zero fuel and low maintenance costs, and with incentives like tax credits and reduced registration fees, the total cost of ownership can become even more attractive. As businesses transition to EVs, they become less susceptible to fluctuations in fossil fuel prices. Reliance on electricity, which can be generated from diverse and renewable sources, would be a more stable and predictable energy supply to public and private transportation.