Electric Vehicles can entirely replace the current fleet of polluting diesel/petrol vehicles in India by 2030 through a smart mix of small, light and switchable batteries. This is the forecast of a White Paper on EVs presented at the TransporTech conclave here recently.

High-paying capacity of citizens might make the switch to the costly EVs easier in Europe, China or the United States. But in India, the transition can happen only if the batteries are made smaller, swappable and thus affordable, EV expert Ashok Jhunjhunwala told DH on the sidelines of the conclave.

Innovative solutions using Internet of Things (IoT), he said, are critical to get the maximum out of batteries. "One size fits all strategy does not hold well in the case of EVs as the vehicle composition is different in India due to the preponderance of public transport and low-cost vehicles."

In the West, governments offer subsidies up to 40% to purchase EVs. "Here in India, that is not viable. Besides, the low temperatures there are conducive for EVs. Batteries get impacted in the high temperatures here,” Jhunjhunwala explained, elaborating on the White Paper prepared by leading office commute platform Move-in-Sync and the Indian Institute of Technology professor.

Range anxiety is another issue. "The Tesla models offer range up to 550 kms for a single charge. Here, we need to look at 100 km range. Fast charging is also not an option here. Swappable small batteries could be the option.”

The ideal mix for Indian conditions, he felt, could be a fixed battery that offers 100 km range and a swappable small, Range Extension (RE) battery. "This additional battery could come handy when you are heading out on a long journey"

This option may be more meaningful for a private vehicle rather than a taxi. The fixed battery is slow-charged overnight and the vehicle can have 100 kms range in a day.

"Most private vehicles travel less than this range for 90% to 95% of days. On the days the vehicle needs to travel longer distance, it just drives to a Swapping Outlet and gets RE-battery mounted, doubling the range.”