Claims more pollution than electric vehicles.

The era of electric cars is coming. Electric cars are being promoted by the government to control pollution so that the country's dependence on petrol and diesel is reduced. The government has a dual mindset behind promoting these cars. On one hand, the government is looking at a solution to the rising pollution and on the other hand, it is looking at saving foreign exchange. That's why electric vehicles remain in the discussion. From electric bikes to electric cars, subsidy schemes are also being run to promote them.

According to a recent study, the situation is exactly the opposite. A study by IIT Kanpur says that electric vehicles are causing more damage to the environment. According to this study, battery electric cars (BEVs) emit 15-50% more greenhouse gases than other vehicles.

IIT Kanpur has done this study with the help of a
Japanese organization (NEDO). In this study, vehicles were divided into 3 categories-

• Traditional Cars
• Electric Cars
• Hybrid Cars

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of all three types of vehicles were calculated.

The IIT study has challenged the claim that electric cars are more environmentally friendly than hybrid cars and traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars.

How different are the three types of vehicles from each other?
First of all, understand about the three types of vehicles. Cars with conventional engines, which run on petrol and diesel. Electric cars, which use batteries completely to run. The battery is charged by electricity and then the car runs from the battery.

At the same time, hybrid cars use a 'battery pack' with a diesel or petrol engine, which powers the electric motor. Both types of technologies give the car combined power. In this, the car can also be run on 'Full EV Mode' for some distance.

What did the study reveal?

• According to a study report by the Engine Research Lab of IIT Kanpur, 15 to 50% more greenhouse gases (GHG) are being produced in the manufacture, use and scrapping of electric cars than hybrid and conventional engine cars.
• The study, led by Professor Avinash Agarwal, says that battery electric cars (BEVs) emit 15-50% more greenhouse gases in different categories than other vehicles.
• In this study of IIT Kanpur, an analysis of vehicles per kilometer revealed that the price, maintenance and insurance of electric vehicles (EVs) are also expensive by 15-60%.
• The study also showed that hybrid electric cars are the most environmentally friendly. Compared to conventional engine cars, hybrid cars get one and a half to two times mileage per liter.

"In battery electric vehicles, batteries have to be charged with electricity, whereas at present, 75% of the electricity in the country is generated from coal and this coal emits carbon-dioxide. The cost of buying, using and maintaining battery cars is 15-60% higher per km as compared to hybrid and conventional cars.

Hybrid
electric vehicles (HEVs) emit at least GHG compared to the other two categories of vehicles, but are slightly more expensive than the other two categories of cars. One of the reasons behind the high price of hybrid cars is the high tax imposed by the government on it.

• The IIT report highlights that despite the damage to the environment, battery electric cars are being promoted through lower taxes and other benefits to buyers.
• The report also suggested that if the government wants to promote clean technology, hybrid cars should be taxed at par with battery vehicles.

Professor Agarwal said that a car with a conventional engine for personal use is cheaper than a battery-powered car. But battery-operated cars are more efficient for taxi operators. While hybrid vehicles are the best in terms of environment.