Latest news with #InternationalCouncilonCleanTransportation
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Chinese automakers build significant leads in zero-emission vehicle market, research finds
Chinese automakers are rapidly pulling ahead in the global zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) market, according to research firm International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). WHY IT'S IMPORTANT The global EV market is currently experiencing intense competition among its key players. China has a crucial role in the global EV transition, as it now accounts for over 11 million electric vehicles sold annually, which corresponds to more than half of global EV sales, ICCT said in a report. Electric vehicle sales in China surpassed over one million units in a single month for the first time this year, driven by strong domestic demand and targeted export efforts from Chinese manufacturers, Rho Motion said earlier. BY THE NUMBERS China-based automakers took the 5 top positions in ZEV class coverage, and 5 of 6 top positions for EV sales share, with companies like Geely and SAIC already reaching 50% EV sales share achieving their 2025 goals a year sooner than planned, ICCT data showed. BYD exceeded Tesla in global battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales for the first time in 2024, with a 25% increase in BEV sales and 47% increase in combined BEV and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales compared to 2023, the research firm said, adding both companies are in the "Leaders" category of the rating. KEY QUOTES "As China-based automakers expand globally, other leading global manufacturers face urgent pressure to accelerate their own transitions or risk losing competitive ground," said Drew Kodjak, president and CEO of the ICCT. "For the wider global auto industry, this is no longer just about meeting future goals - it's about remaining competitive today in a market that's charging up," he added.
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Grid not fully green yet, but full EVs still cleaner: Study
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are already significantly cleaner than petrol or diesel cars — even with India's current electricity grid — and will become even greener as the power grid shifts towards more renewables, a new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and IIT Roorkee has found. The study, released on Thursday, shows that BEVs in the passenger car segment emit at least 38% less greenhouse gases per kilometre than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. And that gap will grow as India's electricity gets cleaner. As of November 2024, renewable energy-based electricity generation capacity stands at 46% of the total installed capacity. The researchers warned against delaying electric vehicle adoption while waiting for a greener grid. 'Petrol and diesel cars bought today will stay on the road for 10-15 years, continuing to pollute,' the report notes. 'But EVs will only get cleaner as the grid improves.' The report also challenged claims around biofuels, saying many studies ignore the impact of land-use change — such as cutting forests to grow biofuel crops — which can cancel out the climate benefits. Another major finding was that hybrid vehicles often show a big gap between lab-tested and real-world fuel use. The study called for more realistic emissions testing and accurate accounting for factors like charging losses in EVs. 'Life-cycle assessments need to reflect how our electricity grid is changing, how people actually use vehicles, and where biofuels come from,' said Sunitha Anup of ICCT, one of the study's authors. 'These things matter because today's assumptions shape tomorrow's climate impact.' The findings come at a time when India is pushing for cleaner transport options to meet its 2070 net-zero emissions goal. Transport currently accounts for about 14% of India's total emissions.
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘India must resist hybrid cars and adapt to EVs': Amitabh Kant
India must resist the temptation of intermediary technologies like hybrid cars and instead leapfrog directly into adopting electric vehicles (EVs), much like it did during the smartphone revolution, said India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant on World Environment Day on Thursday. 'Opting for hybrids is like returning to typewriters in an era of artificial intelligence and smartphones. We should never do that,' said Kant, the former CEO of NITI Aayog. He was speaking at the release of a report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and IIT Roorkee that assesses life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). While transport contributes about 14% to Delhi's pollution load, Kant emphasised the city's multi-source pollution crisis. From stubble burning and industrial emissions to power generation and the widespread domestic use of traditional methods of cooking and heating such as biomass or dungcake burning during winter, Delhi faces a compound challenge. 'From October to December, Delhi becomes the most polluted capital city in the world. Over 80% of the population breathes air worse than India's national ambient air quality standards. It cuts life expectancy by over six years,' he said. He advocated for a winter-specific government scheme for universal LPG coverage to reduce pollution from biomass burning in homes. 'Universal LPG access in Delhi-NCR during winter could be transformative,' he said. Kant said that around 30% of air pollution in Delhi is caused by power plants and industries in NCR. He said that of 12 power plants in the region, only seven out of 36 units have flue gas torrefaction and dry sorbent injection systems installed. 'Of these, 75% of these are run by NTPC. That must change,' he said. Kant added that 4,068 brick kilns in the region contribute nearly 8% of pollution. 'These must be converted to zigzag technology,' he said, calling for a broader shift toward electric boilers for small and medium industries, integrated with rooftop solar.
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Urban Adda 2025: Panel bats for urgent dialogue on urban water crisis
New Delhi: On the final day of Urban Adda 2025—a three-day conclave convened by the Raahgiri Foundation in collaboration with the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), Gurujal, and Nagarro—a thought-provoking panel titled, 'Imagining Water Secure Cities' placed the spotlight firmly on India's urban water emergency. Held on World Environment Day, the session served as both a call to action and a showcase of innovation amid worsening water stress across India's expanding cities. The panel, moderated by urban affairs specialist Vandana Menon, brought together leading voices in governance, community action, corporate innovation, and creative media. Speakers included Archana Verma, Additional Secretary of the National Water Mission; Maulik Sisodia of Tarun Bharat Sangh; Avinash Mishra of CII and former advisor to NITI Aayog; and award-winning filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda. The conversation explored what it means for cities to become 'water secure' and how to shift from consumption-driven systems to those rooted in conservation and stewardship. The panelists collectively emphasised that water sustainability isn't merely a policy issue—it is a cultural, social, and infrastructural challenge requiring deep citizen engagement. During the session, a Rainwater Harvesting Calculator was launched, offering urban residents and developers a real-time tool to assess and adopt water recharge solutions. This innovative step marked a pragmatic leap toward building climate-resilient infrastructure in Indian cities. The urgency of the discussion found resonance in the context of Gurugram, a city emblematic of India's water crisis. Despite being one of the wealthiest districts in Haryana, Gurugram struggles with groundwater depletion, unchecked urbanisation, and broken stormwater systems. Residents routinely depend on private tankers for water, while encroachments on natural water bodies have worsened flood risks during monsoons. Government efforts to revive bundhs and enforce groundwater harvesting rules have seen limited success due to lax implementation. The day's sessions closed with an emphatic plenary by Haryana's Environment and Forest Minister, Rao Narbir Singh. Speaking to a packed audience, Singh called for a cultural shift in sustainability, starting at the individual level. 'We have to stop blaming governments and start taking ownership,' he said. Using his own family as an example, Singh said he had opted for digital invitations for both his children's weddings. 'Not a single card was printed. That's how simple the change can be,' he added. Calling single-use plastic the 'scourge of modern living,' Singh urged for an immediate state-wide ban and encouraged citizens to adopt alternatives. He underscored the importance of intergenerational collaboration, urging elders to guide youth toward greener choices. 'Our future depends not on big speeches but on small, consistent actions,' he said. As the panelists dispersed and attendees pledged greater environmental responsibility, one message stood clear: water-secure cities are not a distant dream but a collective commitment—beginning with today's choices. Simultaneously, despite years of awareness drives and penalties announced by the state government, single-use plastic continues to flood Gurugram's markets. Street vendors, grocery stores, and even high-end delivery services are routinely seen flouting the norms. Plastic waste clogs stormwater drains and chokes water bodies, further complicating water management and sanitation efforts. Residents and environmentalists have repeatedly flagged this issue, demanding stricter action and better alternatives. Even in upscale sectors, residents spend thousands each week on water sourced through private tankers, many of which draw from illegal borewells. These tankers are not only expensive but often unregulated, raising serious questions about quality and health safety. Officials from the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram admit that enforcement is weak, particularly in unauthorised colonies where tanker operators face little to no checks. In Gurugram, the urgency of the discussion found particularly sharp resonance. Despite ongoing awareness campaigns, massive investment in infrastructure, and regulatory directives from multiple agencies, the city continues to face rampant misuse and commodification of water. Every summer, hundreds of residential colonies fall prey to an entrenched water tanker mafia that thrives amid the city's chronic water shortages.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Urban Adda 2025: Women push for gender-inclusive urban design
For women in Indian cities, getting from home to work and back isn't just a commute — it's a battle. Each journey is marked by fear of harassment, lack of clean public toilets, unsafe last-mile connectivity, poorly lit streets, overcrowded buses, and infrastructure that simply doesn't account for their mobility needs. These challenges were among the many issues discussed on Wednesday at Urban Adda 2025, a three-day national dialogue aimed at making Indian cities more inclusive, resilient, and equitable. Policymakers, artists, ministers and experts came under one roof on Wednesday, the second day of Urban Adda 2025. Hosted by the Raahgiri Foundation in partnership with the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) and GuruJal at the India Habitat Centre, the conference brought together policymakers, artists, urban mobility experts, and ministers. Hindustan Times is the media partner for the event. Actor and wellness entrepreneur Pooja Bedi, delivering a plenary address, framed the issue in stark terms: 'Our commute is not just travel. It's like survival Olympics, and the medal is just reaching home without trauma.' Bedi pointed out that cities and transit systems are designed around male travel patterns, ignoring the fact that women often travel with dependents, make multiple stops, or move during off-peak hours. 'Our cities aren't built for us. The way women move through urban spaces — it's not linear, it's cyclical. We aren't just tired, we're burnt out before we even clock in,' she said. 'It's not just about a seat in the bus. Women have to be given a seat at the table.' But in transport systems across India, that table remains largely out of reach. Women remain underrepresented behind the wheel — whether it's buses, autos, or ferries. Rajeshwari Balasubramanian from the Azad Foundation traced the decade-long battle to train and hire women as heavy vehicle drivers in Delhi. 'When we began speaking with the government in 2015, the eligibility criteria itself was discriminatory,' she said. 'A height requirement of 167 cm and a minimum of three years' experience meant most women didn't even stand a chance.' Thanks to sustained advocacy and structured training, the foundation helped over 100 women break into the transport sector and get hired by agencies like the Delhi Transport Corporation. But even then, Balasubramanian said, the road wasn't smooth. 'Hiring was just the beginning. Depots lacked hygienic toilets. There were no rest areas. Infrastructure was still unequal. We had to train women not just in driving but also in communication, self-defence, and resilience.' Swati Khanna, Senior Sector Specialist for Urban Mobility at KfW Development Bank, underscored the systemic nature of the problem. 'Our systems need to be gender-agnostic, but in reality, they exclude women. Inclusion has to be intentional,' she said. Khanna shared a telling example from Kochi, where GIZ supported the launch of an all-electric water metro. 'Initially, only one woman applied to be a ferry pilot — and she dropped out. But when the Metro reached out to the Naval Training Academy, five women signed up for a rigorous three-year training programme,' she said. If successful, they could be among the first female electric ferry operators in the world — joining the ranks of a single known pilot in Venice. 'It just shows how deep the barriers are, and how long the pipeline has to be,' said Khanna. Mukta Naik, fellow at the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), echoed these concerns and highlighted efforts to correct course. 'Government initiatives are starting to look at gender equity in transport systems — from safe streets to inclusive infrastructure design,' she said. 'But we need to shift from intent to action, and from isolated efforts to systemic transformation.'
