The whitepaper analyses the electric three-wheeler retrofitment ecosystem and proposes a strategy for widespread adoption of retrofitment technologies across the country
India can accelerate the transition to electric vehicles in the auto-rickshaw segment by prioritising fiscal incentives, streamlining state processes, facilitating affordable financing, and addressing regulatory challenges, according to a whitepaper outlining a plan for retrofitting ICE three-wheelers to electric.
Initiatives such as zero-emission vehicle credits, fostering an insurance ecosystem, addressing infrastructure barriers, and raising awareness among driver partners all help to create an enabling environment for widespread retrofit adoption, according to the whitepaper released here.
According to the whitepaper 'Powering Progress - A Blueprint for Retrofitting Three-Wheelers Internal Combustion Engine to Electric', these coordinated efforts can effectively pave the way for a sustainable and electrified future for India's three-wheeler fleet, significantly reducing emissions and operational costs while extending the lifespan of existing vehicles.
The Telangana government commissioned a whitepaper, which was released by the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), and the International Copper Association of India.
The whitepaper analyses the electric three-wheeler retrofitment ecosystem and proposes a strategy for widespread adoption of retrofitment technologies across the country.
The whitepaper was launched at a 'Workshop on Advancing Electrification of Passenger Auto Rickshaws through Retrofitment Solutions: A Blueprint for Indian Cities' attended by Telangana Special Chief Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Jayesh Ranjan, NRDC India Country Head Dipa Singh Bagai, and ASCI officials.
India currently has a large fleet of 7.4 million passenger vehicles, which is expected to grow to 11 million by 2030, according to the white paper.
"The tailpipe emissions from auto rickshaws under best-case operating conditions constitute nearly 10 percent of total road transport emissions in cities," it stated.
Despite a slew of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives provided by both national and sub-national governments in India, the penetration rate of passenger electric auto-rickshaws remains low, at only 6.2 percent, according to the report, which attributes the slow adoption to the high capital costs of new electric vehicles and a lack of public awareness about cost-effective technologies for retrofitting older vehicles to electric.
The whitepaper made several recommendations, including providing fiscal incentives to maximise the potential of retrofitment solutions, and stated that implementing these steps could help accelerate the adoption of retrofitment technologies in the three-wheeler segment.
The benefits of retrofitting, according to the whitepaper, have emerged as a viable solution to address the declining efficiency and rising operational costs associated with ageing vehicles, such as ICE auto-rickshaws.
"This technology increases the lifespan of these vehicles by an additional 5-7 years, resulting in direct reductions in resource consumption and carbon emissions," it added.
Electric vehicle retrofitting is the process of converting conventional petrol or diesel vehicles into electric vehicles by replacing the original engine with an electric powertrain.