By M Muneer

The electric vehicle (EV) revolution has been lauded as a game-changer in the fight against climate change, promising to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable transportation. Governments worldwide are investing heavily in this transition through subsidies, policies, and infrastructure development.

While EVs undoubtedly play a role in reducing emissions, the narrative surrounding their unblemished benefits deserves a closer look. An analysis reveals that the EV revolution is not the panacea it is portrayed to be. Resource constraints, environmental implications, and socio-economic challenges raise questions about the long-term sustainability of this shift.

At first glance, EVs seem like an environmental saviour, producing zero tailpipe emissions. But this ignores the significant resource demands and environmental costs tied to their production, especially the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries, their main engine.

Lithium and cobalt, critical components of EV batteries, are extracted at a staggering environmental and social cost. Around 70% of the world’s lithium reserves are concentrated in the “lithium triangle” of Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia, where mining operations are water-intensive, depleting resources in already arid regions. Cobalt, predominantly sourced from Congo, presents an equally troubling scenario. Reports of hazardous working conditions, child labour, corruption, and geopolitical tensions prevail in the dark underbelly of cobalt mining. The skyrocketing demand for these minerals risks triggering resource scarcity and “resource wars” as nations vie for economic power driven by fuel — whoever controls the fuel gains power.

Producing an EV is significantly more energy-intensive than manufacturing a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. A study by the European Federation for Transport and Environment found that EV production generates 60% more carbon emissions than ICE vehicles do, mainly due to battery production. Manufacturing a 60 kilowatthour battery for a Tesla Model 3 adds 3.6-6 tonnes of CO2 to its lifecycle emissions. In addition, a typical EV consumes six times more scarce minerals than any ICE vehicle. All of these raise an essential question: Are we merely shifting emissions from the tailpipe to the factory floor?

A critical factor in evaluating the environmental benefits of EVs is the source of electricity used to charge them. In India, where coal  accounts for nearly 70% of power generation, the so-called zero-emission vehicle has a carbon-intensive lifecycle. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation, EVs in coal-reliant grids can have lifecycle emissions only marginally lower than modern ICE vehicles.

While India is making strides toward increasing renewable energy in its grid, it constitutes a fraction of the total energy generated. Until the energy grid is decarbonised, the environmental advantage of EVs remains questionable. Worse, the reliance on fossil fuels to charge EVs could undermine efforts to combat climate change, making the transition less effective than anticipated. An added problem for India’s local making of EV is that China controls a majority of the essential minerals, directly or indirectly.

The lifespan of batteries typically ranges from eight to 15 years, after which their disposal becomes an environmental challenge. Recycling them is neither economically viable nor environmentally friendly at scale. Only a small percentage of materials can be recovered, leading to the accumulation of electronic waste. In India, where e-waste management infrastructure is underdeveloped, this poses a significant risk of contamination. Improper disposal can release toxic substances such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel into the environment, jeopardising ecosystems and human health.

India’s transition to EVs requires extensive investments in infrastructure. According to the NITI Aayog, the country would need at least 10 million public charging stations to meet its 2030 EV targets. However, India currently has fewer than 5,000 such stations, highlighting the enormity of the task ahead.

The financial burden doesn’t stop at infrastructure. Setting up and maintaining a reliable charging network is a capital-intensive process, and the costs are often passed on to consumers. This compounds the already high upfront cost of EVs compared to traditional ICE vehicles. For example, a Tata Nexon EV costs around Rs 15 lakh, while its petrol variant is priced at roughly half that. For a country where the average per capita income remains low at Rs 2.3 lakh, these costs could make EVs inaccessible to the majority, leading to eventual snail-paced adoption rates.

While personal EVs are a tempting solution, they might not be the most efficient path forward, especially in populous countries like India. The environmental and resource burden of manufacturing millions of EVs could outweigh benefits. A more sustainable approach could be in focusing on electrifying public transportation.

Buses, taxis, autorickshaws, and trains form the backbone of mobility for millions of Indians. Electrifying these modes of transport could have a far-reaching impact and can reduce emissions and air pollution. Cities like Delhi, where air quality regularly reaches hazardous levels, could benefit immensely from such initiatives. Electric buses, which have already been introduced in several cities, demonstrate the potential of this approach by lowering emissions and operating costs.

In addition, exploring alternative technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells or solid-state batteries could diversify India’s clean mobility strategy. These technologies, though still under development, promise to address some of the limitations of lithium-ion batteries, including resource dependency and lifecycle emissions.

The promise of EVs is undeniable, but so are their challenges. India’s path to sustainable transport cannot rely solely on EVs. A balanced approach that integrates renewable energy development, public transport electrification, and alternative technologies is essential. Policymakers must also address the socioeconomic disparities that could hinder EV adoption, ensuring that the transition benefits all strata of society. Else, EVs will be like Tesla for most Indians—aspirational.

A holistic strategy can help India achieve its climate goals, and drive a sustainable and equitable transportation ecosystem. The EV revolution is a critical piece of the puzzle, but it is not the whole picture. To truly combat climate change and build a sustainable future, India must embrace a broader, more inclusive vision of clean mobility.

The writer is Fortune-500 advisor, start-up investor, and co-founder,  Medici Institute for Innovation.

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of FinancialExpress.com. Reproducing this content without permission is prohibited.