TANGEDCo plans to organize an e- vehicles Campaign in Coimbatore
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), Coimbatore Metro, will organise a “Go Electric Campaign” here from December 9 to 11.
According to a press release, awareness vehicles will go to the main locations in the city and pamphlets will be distributed about e-vehicles. The campaign will be held at the Tangedco offices too. E-vehicles use batteries that can be charged instead of fuel.
The Central and State governments are extending incentives and subsidies to introduce e-vehicles and set up electric charging station infrastructure. The details are available on www.beeindia.gov.in
Electric vehicles: Boon or bane?
Advantages:
For Environment:
By choosing to drive an EV you are helping to reduce harmful air pollution from exhaust emissions. An EV has zero exhaust emission. If you use renewable energy to recharge your EV, you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions even further. You could recharge your EV from your solar PV system during the day instead of from the grid. There is also a trend towards more eco-friendly products and materials for EVs.
The Ford Focus Electric is made up of recycled materials and the padding is made out of bio-based materials. The Nissan Leaf’s interior and bodywork are partly made out of green materials such as recycled water bottles, plastic bags, old car parts and even second-hand home appliances
Cheaper:
The electricity to charge an EV works out around a third as much per kilometre as buying petrol for the same vehicle.
Health :
The better air quality will lead to fewer health problems and costs caused by air pollution. EVs are also quieter than petrol/diesel vehicles, which means less noise pollution.
Energy Security:
EVs are easy to power from local and renewable energy sources, reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
Popularity:
EV’s are growing in popularity. With popularity comes all new types of cars being put on the market that are each unique, providing you with a wealth of choices moving forward.
Low Maintenance:
Electric cars run on electrically powered engines and hence there is no need to lubricate the engines. Other expensive engine work is a thing of the past. Therefore, the maintenance cost of these cars has come down. You don’t need to send it to the service station often as you do a normal gasoline-powered car.
Disadvantages:
Electric car sales are steadily growing, but the charging infrastructure that supports them still needs a lot of work and it’s this fear of ‘running out of juice’ that’s putting some people off an EV purchase.
Limited Choice:
Car manufacturers have only recently caught the electric vehicle (EV) bug, so the choice of models remains limited.
Limited Availability Charging Infrastructure:
Of those surveyed, 50% felt that there aren’t enough charging stations for electric cars.
Not Suited for long Journeys:
42% of respondents saw a problem with using an EV for long journeys. High-end EVs, like the Tesla Model S 100d, have a range of up to 335 miles. Mid-range EVs, like the Chevrolet Bolt, is improving drastically and can go over 230 miles on a single charge. For some people these ranges genuinely won’t be enough for their ‘long journeys’, but for others, they will.
Charging Time:
The charge time of electric vehicles is still a major gripe for consumers, and 36% thought this was a disadvantage. For example:
3.7kW charge point: 7–8 hours
7kW charge point: 4–5 hours
DC fast chargers: up to 80% in 30 minutes
Cannot be charged at home:
Being unable to charge an electric car at home was the fifth biggest disadvantage for 26% of respondents. This can be a real problem if you don’t have a driveway or garage.
Way Forward:
For EVs to contribute effectively, we need commensurate efforts in developing an entire ecosystem. Increasing focus on incentivizing electric two-wheeler because two-wheeler accounts for 76% of the vehicles in the country and consume most of the fuel.
A wide network of charging stations is imminent for attracting investment. Private investment in battery manufacturing plants and developing low-cost production technology is needed.
Meena
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