World Environment Day 2024: A Call to Action for Electric Mobility Ecosystem

Grappling under the intense heatwaves, Delhi is experiencing once of the hottest days of all time this summer. With soaring temperatures, the urgency to address environmental degradation and climate change has never been more pronounced.

With the onset of World Environment Day celebrations on June 5, 2024, its theme for 2024 has been set on “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.” 

This year’s theme highlights the need for land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience, aligning perfectly with the promotion of electric vehicles (EVs) as a critical strategy to combat environmental degradation.

World Environment Day serves as a reminder of the collective action needed to restore and protect our environment. By adopting EVs, we contribute to the broader goals of land restoration and resilience against desertification and drought.

Commemorating this World Environment Day, embracing electric vehicles represents a tangible step towards achieving the day's goals and the theme's vision. It underscores our commitment to a sustainable future where restored ecosystems and cleaner air are within our reach.

Experts Rundown on Electric Vehicle Development

Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA stated, "The automotive sector is gearing up to play a key role in achieving India’s sustainability goals. Many of our ACMA members have taken significant steps towards decarbonisation and embracing principles of material circularity. We need to further intensify our efforts by collaborating across the value chain and adopting green manufacturing techniques and energy-efficient processes. Together, we can build a greener future for the automotive industry and our nation."

Ravi Mehra, Deputy Managing Director and Head Group Corporate, Uno Minda Ltd. said, "World Environment Day serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to safeguard the planet. As a leader in the automotive components industry who advocates for environmental stewardship and sustainable practices, Uno Minda is proud to contribute to the potential of electric vehicles (EVs) in shaping a sustainable future for the environment as one of our many initiatives to reduce carbon footprints. The automotive industry is responsible for a significant portion of the total emissions, with road transport alone contributing to three-quarters of these emissions and more than 15% of the overall global CO2 emissions. However, the current rise of EV consumption emerges as a respite to cutting down the carbon footprint of the transportation sector, making a substantial contribution to global efforts in reducing climate change. Uno Minda is committed to supporting this evolution through its high-quality auto components designed and developed specifically to support the production of more fuel-efficient electric vehicles. By embracing electric vehicles as a cornerstone of de carbonization efforts, we can make substantial progress while addressing pressing environmental, health, and energy security challenges."

Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VECV commented, "India’s auto industry is transitioning its energy mix towards cleaner alternate fuels in line with the nation’s Net Zero commitments. Our approach at VECV is through application-specific alternate fuel drivelines, smart manufacturing processes, and smart support solutions contributing to the rapid modernization of the Indian logistics ecosystem. We are committed to deliver on  a diverse array of possibilities, including Battery Electric Vehicles, Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines, and fuel cell technology, which will be introduced as the market becomes ready. In addition to this, we also believe that sustainability is about efficient asset utilization. All Volvo and Eicher trucks and buses are backed by a 100% connected ecosystem to deliver on our promise of productivity and superior uptime for our customers.  Aligned with World Environment Day 2024’s focus on ‘Our Land. Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration,' VECV has been actively introducing cleaner vehicles and sustainable practices across operations. In 2020,  VECV’s manufacturing facility in Bhopal was the first in the CV industry to be established with Industry 4.0 standards. We reaffirm our dedication to reducing our carbon footprint aligned with the broader imperative of a greener and more sustainable future."

Kollu Nandakumar, Head of Product Development, Elektrobit India Pvt. Ltd. said,” According to McKinsey, mobility accounts for 75% of all carbon emissions, with tailpipe emissions being a major contributor. At Elektrobit, our vision is “Our software moves the world.” With our code integrated into over 600 million vehicles worldwide, we are proud of our impact but also mindful of our responsibility to reduce environmental footprints. In the software sector, we acknowledge our significant role in sustainability. The quest for a greener future cannot rely solely on advancements in materials and hardware. From the start, software has been pivotal in enhancing vehicle efficiency. Navigation systems help optimize fuel consumption, and software updates extend vehicle lifecycles by adding new features. On a broader scale, fleet management software boosts vehicle utilization, leading to greater overall efficiency. This World Environment Day, we renew our commitment to standardize, optimize, virtualize, and collaborate with the automotive industry. We aim to create a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable future for mobility.”

Manjula Girish, Business Head-EV Charging and Photovoltaic Inverter Division, Delta Electronics India said,” Electric Vehicles (EVs) are a transformative force in the fight against climate change. By significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional combustion engines, EVs play a critical role in mitigating global warming. At Delta Electronics India, we are committed to advancing EV technology and infrastructure, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Our innovations in EV charging solutions are designed to support the widespread adoption of electric mobility, further reducing our carbon footprint and fostering a healthier planet. World Environment Day serves as a critical platform for the EV industry to showcase its commitment to a sustainable future. As the mission of the EV industry synchronizes with the mission of World Environment Day attributing to sustainability, emission reduction and climate change It’s a day to celebrate the progress we have made in electrifying transportation and highlight the positive impact EVs can have on our planet. At Delta Electronics India, we see World Environment Day as an opportunity to raise awareness, inspire action, and accelerate the transition towards cleaner Transportation solutions.”

Saurav Kumar, Founder and CEO, Euler Motors said, “The World Environment Day offers an opportunity to for all stakeholders to pause and rethink their impact on the planet. This is not a conversation limited only to the boardroom anymore, nor is it just a nod to a day on the calendar. We see people from all walks of life rising to alleviate the potential threat. For example, many individuals and businesses are now choosing electric vehicles (EVs) not only for their excellent performance but also because they understand that by opting for EVs, they will be operating a climate positive operation. At Euler Motors – enabling India’s transition to sustainable mobility is core to our vision. That said, efforts towards creating a more sustainable future are a collective agenda, an effort that requires polity, citizens and organizations of all sizes and across industries to make conscious and visible changes to current ways of working – in order that we leave a habitable planet for future generations. We should aim to never have a hotter day than the National Capital saw, because then cities would eventually become uninhabitable. The responsibility lies with all of us, today.”

“For achieving a successful sustainable energy transition, India will require significant volumes of metals and materials produced using low-carbon technologies. With rise of e mobility, battery recycling will play a major role in combating pollution. Battery recycling is essential for mitigating environmental pollution, conserving resources, saving energy, reducing India’s dependency on imports of critical minerals, and contributing to India’s goal of net zero economy.  At LICO, we are committed to Recover, Recycle, and Refurbish critical minerals for creating a sustainable circular economy within the lithium-ion battery supply chain and powering a greener future. By 2027, LICO is poised to recycle batteries from 200,000 small electric cars annually which relates to a saving of 100 million liters of water equivalent to 40 Olympic size Swimming Pools and saving of CO2 emissions equivalent to CO2 absorption by 37 million trees. We have refurbished 700KW hours and utilized energy density by powering a variety of energy storage energy applications. Our both plants are sustainable with Zero Particulate & Liquid Discharge, where we reuse 25,000 liters of water monthly, leveraging our cutting-edge, future-friendly solutions,” said Gaurav Dolwani, CEO & Founder, LICO Materials.

"At Epsilon, we believe that our commitment to sustainability not only drives our business forward but also sets a benchmark for the industry. We remain steadfast in our mission to innovate and lead the way towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Drawing from our experience at Epsilon, adopting lifecycle analysis early in product development has been a game changer. This approach has enabled us to accurately identify our carbon footprints and detect any leakages, leading to the design of more compliant facilities. It has also allowed us to focus on Scope 3 emissions with our suppliers, an area that is often overlooked. Embedding sustainable practices at the plant design and engineering level is key to building world-class facilities. Most of our clients across industries, such as aluminium, tire, and electric vehicles, are actively seeking low-carbon solutions and expect their suppliers to align with these objectives. Contrary to common belief, sustainable practices do not necessarily increase costs; initial capital investments pay off in the long run by enhancing product positioning. Proof points such as Zero Liquid Discharge facility saving 24 million litres of water, and reduction in greenhouse gas emission intensity by 90% by utilizing waste gases to power our 17MW captive power plant are guiding factors into our industry. On this World Environment Day, we reaffirm our commitment to a greener future through relentless innovation and sustainable practices." said Vikram Handa, MD, Epsilon Group.

Dinesh Arjun, Co-Founder and CEO at Raptee said,” Electric vehicles (EVs) significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional vehicles, directly addressing climate change. India's long-term low-carbon development strategy underscores the need for an integrated, efficient, and inclusive transport system to achieve net zero by 2070. Given that transportation is the fastest-growing major contributor to global climate change, accounting for 23% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, World Environment Day is vital for the EV industry as it offers a promising solution. By replacing internal combustion engines with electric motors, EVs help decrease reliance on fossil fuels and minimize harmful emissions.  It also highlights the urgent need for sustainable practices and raises awareness about the environmental benefits of electric vehicles. This day emphasizes the role of EVs in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, fostering collaboration, innovation, and public engagement to drive the transition towards a sustainable future.”

"This year's theme, land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience is a reflection of the urgent need to restore our ecosystems, combat land degradation, and build resilience against climate change. Each year India alone discards about 3.4 lakh tonnes of e-waste in the landfills polluting our land and water bodies of which 70,000 metric tons is Lithium-ion waste. At MiniMInes, we provide a sustainable and efficient Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery recycling clean-tech solution. We are developing a low-cost, carbon-neutral recycling or extraction process to obtain precious commodities at the cheapest possible price and strive tirelessly to reduce CO2 emissions. We believe World Environment Day isn't just about celebrating our planet, it's about actively giving back. By giving new life to old materials through recycling, we reduce our reliance on virgin resources – a key step in allowing the earth to heal and regenerate.  Just like fertile soil allows new life to flourish, responsible recycling creates the foundation for a more sustainable future. Let's all commit to closing the loop – recycle, restore, and rebuild a thriving planet together," said Anupam Kumar, CEO, MiniMines.

“Climate change is real, and we are looking at its repercussions in real time. While we celebrate World Environment Day to raise awareness, this is an issue that needs to be taken seriously every single day. EVs are one of the major ways to help address climate change and strive to reach net-zero. As a leading E2W company, we witness firsthand the profound impact electric vehicles (EVs) have on the world. EVs are revolutionizing transportation by significantly reducing carbon emissions, decreasing air pollution, decreasing noise pollutions and promoting sustainable living. For a growing economy like us EVs can be the answer to help our industries grow while being considerate towards the climate. For instance, the booming logistics sector can really benefit from electrifying the fleets. The same is true for most major industries be it agriculture, healthcare, waste management etc. The EV industry is witnessing rapid innovation; for instance, the new Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model. It gives fleet owners and retail customers the option to lease the battery on a monthly subscription basis. This brings down the TCO by almost 40% thus increasing EV adoption and a healthier future. In addition to this, there is a battery swapping station which offers both, battery leasing and swapping to address the range anxiety issue. Anyone who’s in a hurry just need to swap the batteries and will be ready again within seconds to go the distance. The total distance covered till date with our EVs is 22,21,04,383 Kms by 13,571 users. The average Km per user is 16,368. Till date, we have saved 66,63,132 Kg of CO2 which is 491 Kg CO2 per user on average and this is just the beginning. By embracing innovation and eco-friendly technology, we are not just offering efficient and economical mobility solutions, but also paving the way for a sustainable future. Together, we can drive the change towards a more environmentally conscious world,” commented Pritesh, President EV Business, Lectrix EV.

Kaustubh Dhonde, Founder & CEO, AutoNxt Automation Pvt. Ltd. said,” On this World Environment Day, we in the electric vehicle (EV) industry are proud to reaffirm our commitment to a sustainable future. As we witness the effects of climate change, our mission becomes ever more critical: to drive the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner, renewable energy sources. EVs are not just vehicles; they are a symbol of innovation and a crucial step toward reducing our carbon footprint. By embracing electric mobility, we are taking meaningful action to preserve our planet for future generations. Today, we celebrate the progress we’ve made and recognize the work still ahead. We call on policymakers, businesses, and individuals to join us in accelerating the shift to sustainable transportation. Together, we can ensure that our legacy is one of clean energy and environmental stewardship.”

“I believe that as an industry, our commitment should extend beyond manufacturing electric vehicles and focus more on transforming the broader transportation landscape through sustainable innovations and manufacturing methods. The future of mobility rests largely on the potential of EV technology to reduce environmental impact. For instance, EVs are known to emit 43% less pollution than traditional fuel-driven vehicles, making them useful in lowering greenhouse gases. In this regard, a collective mission to integrate the latest technological advancements can help make the vehicles more efficient, in turn, making them more adept at preserving our planet. Hence, this World Environment Day, as industry players, we should take a stand to reinforce the EV community’s commitment to a build a sustainable future and adopt eco-friendly manufacturing processes that lower waste and make room for recyclability. I believe that by maintaining such a holistic approach we can prompt a broader shift toward sustainability across the value chain and the society at large. As EV manufacturers and infrastructure developers, we are responsible for leading an ecological transformation in transportation, and in this journey, we must collaborate to make India’s EV30@30 target a success and advance towards achieving the net zero emissions goal,” stated Prashant Vashishtha, CMD, Sokudo Electric India Pvt. Ltd.

Maxson Lewis, Founder & CEO, Magenta Mobility mentioned, “On this World Environment Day, Magenta Mobility reaffirms our commitment to decarbonizing logistics through our safe, smart, and sustainable mobility solutions. Our vision is to help businesses adopt electric vehicles and transition to zero-emission transportation. With our comprehensive and innovative service portfolio encompassing Logistics, Charging, and Technology, we empower businesses to achieve their sustainability goals, thereby contributing to the restoration of our planet. Today, our fleet of 2,000+ vehicles have traveled 16 million clean kilometers across 17 cities and managed to keep 430 metric tons of carbon dioxide out of our air. Through our ambitious 'Ab Ki Baar Dus Hazaar' program, we aim to deploy 10,000 electric vehicles by September 2025, significantly amplifying our environmental impact.”

"The electric vehicle (EV) industry is making significant strides in enhancing environmental sustainability. EV adoption has led to 21 % reduction in nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions, and a 34 % reduction in carbon dioxide emissions annually. With 40% of electric power for EVs coming from renewable sources, we can further reduce fossil fuel use. This shift could save 474 million tonnes of oil equivalent and achieve net savings of ₹15.21 trillion, supporting both environmental goals and economic growth. Beyond economic and emission reductions, EVs contribute to cleaner air, reducing health risks associated with air pollution. This transition supports biodiversity by decreasing habitat destruction linked to fossil fuel extraction, leading to overall ecosystem restoration and resilience." Said Pratik Kamdar, CEO & Co-Founder, Neuron Energy.

Dr. Vikas Nimesh, Principal Research Associate, Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) said, "India eagerly anticipates the unveiling of the next phase of the FAME initiative, generating significant excitement among stakeholders in the EV community. The forthcoming regulations are expected to enhance manufacturing capabilities, increase domestic sourcing, and address infrastructure gaps—critical steps for broader EV adoption. Aligned with initiatives like the PLI Scheme, these regulations are poised to attract substantial investments, furthering the 'Make in India' mission. The transport sector contributes to a staggering 23% of global GHG emissions, a percentage that is alarmingly on the rise. As we mark World Environment Day 2024, it's essential to recognise the transformative potential of EVs in promoting clean and sustainable mobility. Accelerating the transition from ICE to EVs is crucial to significantly reduce pollution. India is at the forefront of this transition, demonstrating a strong commitment to increasing EV adoption, ensuring a just, clean and smart energy transition for all."

Stating his views from legal perspective, Abhinav Saxena, Co-Founding Partner Saxena’s And Kumar Law Chambers LLP shared, “The Indian Government are incentivizing the adoption of EVs through various schemes and policies such as Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME), Production Linked Incentive(PLI), the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, the Vehicle Scrappage Policy, the Go Electric campaign and Model Building Bye-laws, 2016 (MBBL) for the purpose of boosting this sector and to promote energy efficiency and sustainability. Recently, NSE Indices also launched India’s first Electric Vehicle Index which is designed to monitor the performance of business within the EV sector and those engaged in the advancement of new-age automotive vehicles and associated technology. Despite getting so much support from the government, this sector still faces some legal and paralegal challenges which hinders its growth. Disputes have arisen between the government and the manufacturers over infrastructure development like that of charging stations, subsidy distribution, and the implementation of policies. Recently, Ministry of Heavy Industries fined three companies (Hero Electric, Okinawa, Benling) for violating FAME-II guidelines by earning subsidies illegally worth Rs. 300 crores. These companies have been deregistered and may be barred from all Central government schemes pending approval from the Ministry of Finance. But nonetheless, the EV sector is a fast-growing sector and with continued support from the government it will not only help boost the economy but also contribute to creating a clean and healthy environment.”

Aditya Singh Ratnu, C-Founder of ZEVO said,” At ZEVO, we are committed to leading the electric mobility revolution in India's logistics sector. Our extensive fleet of electric vehicles, ranging from electric 2Wheelers to 55 Ton electric trucks, is at the forefront of decarbonizing transportation and supply chains. On this World Environment Day, we reaffirm our dedication to combat climate change by providing sustainable logistics solutions that significantly reduce carbon footprints. By enabling businesses across industries to transition to EVs, we are empowering them to meet their emissions reduction targets and build a greener future, in line with the National Net Zero emissions targets by 2070. As we celebrate World Environment Day, let us collectively recognize the pivotal role of electric mobility in protecting our planet. ZEVO is proud to be the front runner in this transformation, and together we can build a zero-emission logistics ecosystem that drives economic growth while safeguarding the environment for generations to come.”