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Mint
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Mint
EV vs Petrol: Electric vehicles prove cheaper to run in India, says CEEW study
As India's vehicle population is set to more than double by 2050, a new study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) has highlighted a significant shift in cost competitiveness between electric and petrol vehicles. The research shows that electric vehicles (EVs), particularly in the two- and three-wheeler categories, now offer a markedly lower total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to their petrol counterparts, a trend that could redefine the future of personal and commercial mobility in the country. According to the CEEW, electric two-wheelers are already the most economical option on Indian roads, costing just ₹ 1.48 per kilometre to operate, compared to ₹ 2.46 for petrol-powered versions. The advantage is even starker in the three-wheeler segment, where EVs cost ₹ 1.28/km versus ₹ 3.21/km for petrol-driven models. Commercial taxis, where operating costs heavily influence purchasing decisions, also stand to benefit significantly from the EV transition. 'Electric two- and three-wheelers are not just greener, but cheaper to run than petrol models. These segments are ripe for rapid electrification,' said Hemant Mallya, Fellow at CEEW. 'Cost advantages, especially in daily-use scenarios, will likely drive adoption faster in states that offer supportive policies.' The report attributes the shift in TCO dynamics to a combination of declining battery costs, supportive state-level incentives, and improved charging infrastructure. However, the cost competitiveness for private electric cars remains mixed across regions. Variations in state subsidies, electricity tariffs, and initial vehicle prices continue to affect affordability, the study notes. Despite the strong performance of EVs in the lighter vehicle categories, the report finds that electrification in heavier commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, lags behind. In 2024, electric medium and heavy goods vehicles remain costlier than those running on diesel, CNG, or LNG. With LNG expected to remain the cheapest fuel option for heavy transport until at least 2040, the study stresses the need for targeted research, infrastructure investments, and cost-reduction strategies to enable a transition in this segment. Without significant progress in electrification and green fuel adoption, diesel is projected to remain dominant in India's road transport sector until the late 2040s. Under a business-as-usual scenario, diesel demand would peak only by 2047, while petrol demand could peak earlier around 2032. Dr Himani Jain, Senior Programme Lead at CEEW, emphasised the broader implications: 'India's transport sector is at the crossroads of an energy, emissions, and urban planning challenge. Rising ownership and usage patterns will only increase congestion and environmental impact if we don't act now. We must prioritise clean, efficient, and cost-effective transport systems.' To manage the evolving cost landscape, the study recommends enhancing access to EV financing, particularly through public banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). Innovative battery rental or EMI-based models could make upfront costs more manageable. In parallel, better data on vehicle ownership at the district level—especially via the VAHAN portal—will help target incentives and infrastructure planning more effectively. As India steers towards a low-carbon future, aligning fuel economics with sustainability goals will be key. The CEEW's Transportation Fuel Forecasting Model (TFFM), which enables granular projections of vehicle stock and energy demand at the district level, is expected to be a critical tool for policymakers, automakers, and energy providers alike.
The Wire
a day ago
- Climate
- The Wire
More than Half of India's Districts Vulnerable to 'High to Very high' Heat Risk: Study
More than half of India's districts are vulnerable to 'high to very high' heat risk, according to a recent study by Delhi-based think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water. The top 10 states and union territories that are threatened by the highest heat risk are Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The study recommends that Heat Action Plans – which are currently used at the district level to prepare for heat hazards and exposure – be updated regularly, and that it take into account aspects such as the rise in warmer nights and relative humidity which the study noted as new trends over the past decade. India has been experiencing record-breaking heat in recent times. For instance, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced that February 2025 was the hottest that India has witnessed in 125 years. Last year, in a first, Mungeshpur in northwest Delhi clocked 52.3° Celsius in May (which authorities put down as an 'outlier' possibly due to 'sensor errors'). Per the IMD, a heatwave is said to occur over a region if the maximum temperature goes above 45°C, or when temperatures increase from between 4.5°C and 6.4°C above the normal; and a severe heatwave is said to occur when maximum temperatures exceed 47°C, or rises above normal levels by 6.4°C and higher. Both are known to impact people – their health and livelihoods – in several ways. Some sections of people are more prone to these heat hazards than others. According to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), heat risk is a combination of heat hazard, exposure and vulnerability. A team of scientists at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Delhi, developed a heat risk index (HRI) for 734 districts in India to assess heat risk at district-level across the country. They mapped long-term heat trends from 1982 to 2022 using both satellite imagery and the Indian Monsoon Data Analysis and Assimilation, which is a high-resolution climate dataset. The team also included several other variables in their analyses, such as socio-economic and health factors, land-use, population and green cover while also looking at trends in night-time temperatures and relative humidity levels. The Heat Risk Index in the report of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water. on May 20, showed that 57% (417) of India's 734 districts – which are home to more than three-quarters of the country's total population – are currently at high to very high heat risk. Specifically, 151 districts fell under the 'high risk' category and 266 under the 'very high risk' category. While 201 districts fell in the moderate category and 116 fell either in the low or very low categories, this does not mean that these districts are free of heat risk, but instead that heat risk in these districts is relatively lesser when compared to others, according to the study. The team aggregated these risks at the state level and found that the ten states and union territories with the highest heat risk are Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They also found that while the number of very hot days is increasing in India, the number of very warm nights is increasing at an even greater rate. Over the last decade, nearly 70% of India's districts experienced an additional five very warm nights per summer (March to June). In comparison, only ~28% of districts experienced five or more additional very hot days. This is a concern because usually, when daytime temperatures increase, nights cool down providing much-needed relief to people. However, when nights get warmer, the human body finds it harder to cope with the increased daytime temperatures and unusually warmer nights. Cities and the urban heat island phenomenon The team found that the urban heat island effect – where increased urbanisation and the resulting concretisation keeps temperatures in built-up areas far higher than it would have been if it had green cover – also plays a role in this trend in the increase in very warm nights. Their data showed that the rise in very warm nights is 'most noticeable' in districts with a large population (over 10 lakh), which are often home to tier I and II cities. Per the study, just over the last decade alone, several metros witnessed an additional number of very warm nights per summer: Mumbai witnessed 15, Bengaluru 11, Bhopal and Jaipur witnessed seven each, Delhi experienced six additional very warm nights, as did Chennai (4). 'This increase can be attributed to the urban heat island effect, where cities trap heat during the day and release it at night, thus increasing nighttime temperatures. With nearly 50 per cent of India's population expected to live in urban areas by 2050, this poses a serious threat to the population (UN-DESA 2018),' the study noted. It also found that districts with increased heat extremes but lower vulnerability – such as in Odisha – had higher green cover and better blue infrastructure: 'factors enhance adaptive capacity, helping communities cope more effectively with extreme heat'. Increases in relative humidity is yet another concern. Per the study, the Indo-Gangetic plain experienced the highest summer relative humidity increase in the last decade. 'Cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and Lucknow are also experiencing a 6 to 9 per cent rise in relative humidity,' the CEEW study noted. 'Danger doesn't end when the sun sets' According to the study, the phenomena of increased warm nights and relative humidity need to be factored into existing Heat Action Plans, which are documents that outline strategies and measures to prepare for, respond to and mitigate the impacts of extreme heat events. India must invest in 'long-term resilience', commented Vishwas Chitale, Senior Programme Lead at CEEW, and a co-author of the study. 'Solutions like parametric heat insurance, early warning systems, net-zero cooling shelters, and cool roofs must become core to heat action plans. States like Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are already taking pioneering steps by integrating climate and health data into local planning. Now is the time to scale these efforts nationally, using district-level risk assessments to prioritise funding and action,' Chitale said in a statement. 'Heat stress is no longer a future threat – it's a present reality,' Arunabha Ghosh, CEO of CEEW, said in a press statement. 'Increasingly erratic weather due to climate change – record heat in some regions, unexpected rain in others - is disrupting how we understand summer in India. But the science from the study is unequivocal: we are entering an era of intense, prolonged heat, rising humidity, and dangerously warm nights.' He added that city-level Heat Action Plans must be 'urgently overhauled' to address local vulnerabilities, balance emergency response measures with long-term resilience, and secure financing for sustainable cooling solutions. 'Further, it's time to move beyond daytime temperature thresholds and act on what the data tells us: the danger doesn't end when the sun sets.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Electric two-wheelers in India: the affordable choice over petrol bikes
If you're still riding a petrol two-wheeler in India, you might be paying more than you need to. A new report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) finds that electric two-wheelers are already the most affordable ride on the road—costing just ₹1.48 per kilometre, compared to ₹2.46/km for petrol models. That's not a small difference—it's a financial win for millions of Indian riders, from students to gig workers and city commuters. And with India expected to see over 350 million two-wheelers by 2050 (nearly 70% of the automobile market), that cost advantage could have a massive impact on both household budgets and national fuel use. EVs take the lead The CEEW report highlights how electric vehicles, especially two- and three-wheelers, are already cost-competitive across key segments. In the case of two-wheelers, the numbers speak for themselves: Electric two-wheelers: ₹1.48/km Petrol two-wheelers: ₹2.46/km Beyond the fuel savings, EVs come with lower maintenance costs, longer lifespan, and growing support through governtment subsidies and incentives like the PM E-Drive Scheme. "Electric vehicles (EVs) are already cost-competitive across key segments—especially two- and three-wheelers, taxis, and private cars in states with supportive EV policies," said the report. Why this matters: Cleaner, cheaper, smarter With a growing push toward cleaner energy and reduced oil dependency, the affordability of EVs could become a powerful lever for change—especially in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad, where vehicle density is highest. To make the most of this shift, CEEW recommends a three-pronged approach: expanding EV charging infrastructure , particularly in urban and peri-urban areas; improving financing models—such as EMIs or battery rental options—to make electric vehicles more accessible; and bridging data gaps through platforms like the VAHAN portal to enable smarter, more targeted policy and planning at the district level. "India's transport sector is grappling with a trifecta—energy security, congestion, and emissions. We need walkable, efficient, low-carbon urban transport systems," said Dr Himani Jain, Senior Programme Lead, CEEW. A massive market on the move In addition, the report noted that India's love affair with two-wheelers isn't ending anytime soon. By 2050, the number of two-wheelers on Indian roads is expected to soar to over 350 million, comprising nearly 70% of all vehicles in the country. This projection is based on GDP and population growth trends, and it underscores the central role of two-wheelers in India's transport ecosystem—especially in northern and western states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Still riding petrol? Electric two-wheelers cost you just Rs 1.48/km, study says
If you're still riding a petrol two-wheeler in India, you might be paying more than you need to. A new report by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) finds that electric two-wheelers are already the most affordable ride on the road—costing just ₹1.48 per kilometre, compared to ₹2.46/km for petrol models. That's not a small difference—it's a financial win for millions of Indian riders, from students to gig workers and city commuters. And with India expected to see over 350 million two-wheelers by 2050 (nearly 70% of the automobile market), that cost advantage could have a massive impact on both household budgets and national fuel use. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo EVs take the lead The CEEW report highlights how electric vehicles, especially two- and three-wheelers, are already cost-competitive across key segments. In the case of two-wheelers, the numbers speak for themselves: Live Events Electric two-wheelers : ₹1.48/km Petrol two-wheelers : ₹2.46/km Beyond the fuel savings, EVs come with lower maintenance costs, longer lifespan, and growing support through governtment subsidies and incentives like the PM E-Drive Scheme. "Electric vehicles (EVs) are already cost-competitive across key segments—especially two- and three-wheelers, taxis, and private cars in states with supportive EV policies," said the report. Why this matters: Cleaner, cheaper, smarter With a growing push toward cleaner energy and reduced oil dependency, the affordability of EVs could become a powerful lever for change—especially in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad, where vehicle density is highest. To make the most of this shift, CEEW recommends a three-pronged approach: expanding EV charging infrastructure , particularly in urban and peri-urban areas; improving financing models—such as EMIs or battery rental options—to make electric vehicles more accessible; and bridging data gaps through platforms like the VAHAN portal to enable smarter, more targeted policy and planning at the district level. "India's transport sector is grappling with a trifecta—energy security, congestion, and emissions. We need walkable, efficient, low-carbon urban transport systems," said Dr Himani Jain, Senior Programme Lead, CEEW. A massive market on the move In addition, the report noted that India's love affair with two-wheelers isn't ending anytime soon. By 2050, the number of two-wheelers on Indian roads is expected to soar to over 350 million, comprising nearly 70% of all vehicles in the country. This projection is based on GDP and population growth trends, and it underscores the central role of two-wheelers in India's transport ecosystem—especially in northern and western states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
India's vehicle ownership to hit 500 million by 2050, led by two-wheelers and passenger cars
A latest study finds that the Indian vehicle ownership is on the path to rise to 500 million by 2050. (Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times) Check Offers India's vehicle ownership is projected to more than double by 2050, rising from 22.6 crore in 2023 to nearly 50 crore, according to new studies released by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). The research highlights two-wheelers and private cars as the major drivers of this growth, with wide-ranging implications for fuel demand, infrastructure needs, and urban mobility challenges. Two-wheelers to dominate growth By 2050, two-wheelers are expected to account for nearly 70% of India's total vehicle stock, over 35 crore vehicles, under a business-as-usual scenario based on projected GDP and population growth. Private car ownership is also set to rise significantly, nearly tripling to reach around 9 crore units. This surge in vehicle numbers will place additional pressure on cities already struggling with congestion, emissions, and inadequate infrastructure. Growth concentrated in northern and western states Most of the vehicle stock growth will be concentrated in states like Uttar Pradesh, which alone could have more than 9 crore vehicles by mid-century. Other states likely to see significant growth include Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. In contrast, southern states may experience a slowdown in vehicle growth due to declining population growth rates. Urban and peri-urban centres, such as Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Thane, and Ahmedabad, will remain major vehicle hubs, collectively accounting for about 10% of the projected total vehicle stock. EV two-wheelers are cost-competitive The studies find that electric two- and three-wheelers already offer lower running costs compared to their petrol counterparts. The total cost of ownership (TCO) for an electric two-wheeler is ₹ 1.48/km, compared to ₹ 2.46/km for a petrol model. For electric three-wheelers, the cost is ₹ 1.28/km versus ₹ 3.21/km for petrol. Electric vehicles in the taxi and private car segments are also becoming competitive, though cost advantages vary depending on state-level EV incentives, upfront costs, and charging tariffs. In states with supportive EV policies, electric cars can offer savings, but the economics remain inconsistent across the country. Commercial transport still dependent on fossil fuels In contrast to smaller vehicles, electric trucks and buses remain significantly more expensive than diesel, CNG, or LNG models. LNG is expected to remain the cheapest option for medium and heavy vehicles until at least 2040. Without major improvements in electric vehicle affordability and charging infrastructure, diesel use in commercial transport is projected to continue into the 2040s. The study estimates that under a business-as-usual scenario, diesel demand would only peak by 2047, while petrol demand could plateau earlier, around 2032. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2024, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 17 Jun 2025, 15:26 PM IST
