One of the topics of growing concern in India besides population of course is growing air pollution. With per capita income in Indian homes increasing and easy availability of financing options, people tend to buy cars with better features and engine performance. While the natural greed of humans to settle for the better is never ending, question arises of what one can do to control air pollution caused due to vehicles. The first thought that would come to mind instantly would be ‘how about eliminating the pollution causing internal combustion engines altogether?’ What you’re thinking is actually pretty accurate. Alternate fuel cars are something that has been a long discussed topic in the automobile fraternity and questions regarding its sustainability in the future have been asked time and again.
Electric Vehicles (EV)
If you ever decide to save Planet Earth and step away from this world of smoke, you would probably think first of investing in an electric vehicle. These cars use lithium-ion battery packs that can be charged via a normal 220V plug point in your garage. The energy stored in the battery is converted to electricity which drives the electric motors which in turn drive the wheels. EVs have been around for the longest time amongst alternate fuel cars and we have had a few examples in our own country as well. Remember that cute little Reva? Or the new Mahindra E2O? The Reva was the first EV to be manufactured in India, while the E2O is its successor albeit under Mahindra’s leadership. The two-door Mahindra E2O currently sells at Rs. 5.96 lakhs to Rs. 7.19 lakhs (Ex-showroom, Delhi) that is after including government subsidies on EVs. This makes electric vehicles hugely impractical and given their limited drive range further detracts the deal.
Hybrid Vehicles
In simple words, the biggest problem faced by EV owners is solved by hybrid cars. Hybrid vehicles provide extended driving range due to the combination of an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. The engine when running, during braking and coasting, charges the battery pack with the help of a generator. At slow city speeds the vehicle makes use of this battery power that drive the electric motors connected to the driving wheels without extracting power from the engine, hence saving huge amounts of fuel in traffic situations. In situations when you require a sudden burst of acceleration, the battery and engine are capable of working in conjunction to give an extra boost. The Toyota Prius is the world’s highest selling hybrid vehicle followed by Toyota’s own Camry Hybrid. The Toyota Prius retails between a whopping Rs. 38.10 lakhs and Rs. 39.80 lakhs, while the Camry Hybrid is priced at a saner Rs. 31.92 lakhs (All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi).
Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV)
What does one do if they want the best of both aforementioned vehicle categories? Buy a plug-in hybrid vehicle. These vehicles provide the all electric driveability of EVs combined with the core functionality of hybrid vehicles. PHEVs consist of a lithium-ion battery that can be charged via a regular power outlet just as in the case of an EV. The car initially runs completely from the power it receives from the battery pack and only after this power is entirely consumed the car goes back to acting like a normal hybrid car. The only PHEV sold in India is the BMW i8 sportscar that costs Rs. 2.29 crore (Ex-showroom, Delhi).
Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV)
These vehicles can be called the epitome of innovation in the automobile industry. FCVs use hydrogen as their primary fuel which emits only water and heat as its by-products making it the cleanest of all alternate fuels. A hydrogen fuel cell generates power which charges the battery packs and drives the electric motors connected to the wheels. Hydrogen can be refilled into the fuel tank at fuel stations just like normal fossil fuels thus eliminating the need to charge the batteries from an external power source which adds greatly to the convenience of owning an FCV. The world’s first commercially produced fuel cell vehicle is the Toyota Mirai and is priced at Â¥6.70 million ($57,400 and Rs. 37.90 lakhs) in Japan.
• The Union Government launched the FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) scheme earlier this year that aims at boosting sales of EVs and hybrid vehicles in India.
• Toyota took more than 20 years to develop the world’s first commercially produced fuel cell vehicle.
• The record for the most fuel efficient PHEV is held by the Volkswagen XL1 Concept which delivers a mind boggling 100Km/L.
• The Toyota Prius Hybrid has sold more than 8 million units worldwide since its inception in 1997.
• The Mahindra E2O uses a 48V lithium-ion battery that gives it a range of 120Kms.
