Electric Three-wheelers: Driving India's EV Revolution

Electric rickshaws are in high demand worldwide due to their low shipping costs, low prices, and ability to go through congested city streets. It is also gaining popularity among businesses since it provides low-cost last-mile delivery, which helps enhance earnings.

Among the scores of three-wheelers with sputtering engines in the packed streets surrounding Delhi's mass transit hubs, one may frequently discover e-rickshaws, their electric motors humming softly. These battery-powered vehicles create jobs for thousands of people in the capital, provide last-mile connectivity for many more, deliver commodities, and help to reduce air pollution. Nonetheless, they are far from common in Delhi or elsewhere in India.

According to the survey, e-rickshaws presently account for 83% of India's electric vehicle market. There are currently around 2 million electric rickshaws in India, with approximately 15,000 new electric vehicles being sold each month. These figures are likely to be higher because many people are yet unregistered. The market is estimated to sell 925,000 electric three-wheelers by 2024. The main drivers of this massive growth include economic and environmental benefits, as well as a favourable government policy environment.

About Electric three-wheelers

Since 2008, E-rickshaws have grown in popularity in most parts of the world. Since 2011, e-rickshaws have grown in popularity in India.

The increase in the number of rickshaws failed due to a prohibition imposed by the Indian government in the capital city of Delhi. Nonetheless, they are commonly used in the majority of the country.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued the rules to control e-rickshaws on October 8, 2014, by making significant revisions to the Motor Vehicles Rules of 1989. The amendments were ratified by the Parliament in March 2015, legalizing the usage of electric rickshaws.

E-rickshaws have increased in popularity across India due to their ability to transport up to four passengers in more comfort, with less human labour, and with zero emissions. E-rickshaws are less expensive to operate than CNG-powered auto rickshaws because they do not use expensive and polluting conventional fuels.

In large cities such as Delhi, e-rickshaws have arisen as a source of income for drivers and their families, as well as a sustainable and low-cost mode of transportation for low-income to lower-middle-class commuters.

Many drivers prefer it because of its functionality and convenience. India's public transportation has become greener and more efficient as a result of its success.

According to Vahan's research, Uttar Pradesh (403,411) has the most e-rickshaw users, followed by Delhi (117,885) and Bihar (108,669). There are fewer than 1,000 registered e-rickshaws in just eight states.

What are the advantages of E-Rickshaws?

Electric rickshaws are in high demand worldwide due to their low shipping costs, low prices, and ability to go through congested city streets. It is also gaining popularity among businesses since it provides low-cost last-mile delivery, which helps enhance earnings.

Furthermore, consumers are getting more interested in e-rickshaws as a result of tighter emissions rules, higher fuel prices, incentives, and a greater range of e-rickshaw options, resulting in increased demand for rickshaws in the primary, secondary, urban, and rural sectors.

Electric rickshaws, among other vehicles, would be a great alternative for last-mile connections. They are regarded as intelligent since they are ideal for urban environments, emit less local pollution, and have low emissions and speeds.

In terms of financial flexibility, the annual credit market for EVs is estimated to expand to Rs 3,700 by 2030, according to a report by the NITI Aayog and the think tank RMI India. Two- and three-wheeled vehicles will account for less than 10% of the total, but they will be critical in constructing critical projects and assisting local governments in meeting key climate targets such as pollution reduction.

Challenges faced by electric three-wheelers

Initially, the most serious issues for electric rickshaws were a lack of suitable charging infrastructure and range concerns.

The reliance on imports caused by a lack of manufacturing and production, the high cost of purchasing electric vehicles, a lack of research and development into batteries and EVs, a lack of charging infrastructure, a lack of battery disposal systems, and outdated diesel vehicle scrapping regulations are just some of the challenges ahead.

The drawbacks of e-rickshaws

1. Slower speed - E-rickshaws are typically slow, running at 30-35 kmph, and hence cannot match the pace of conventional vehicles. During an emergency, it is not a desirable form of transportation.

2. Light weight - Because e-rickshaws are smaller in weight, they would struggle to compete with heavier vehicles. There's a danger the rickshaw will flip upside down. One may picture how the drivers in India would ride an overloaded e-rickshaw.

3. Dangerous batteries - One of the greatest disadvantages is the battery issue. The majority of batteries used nowadays are lead-acid batteries. Deep-discharge lead acid batteries are currently imported into India, and they can be quite hazardous.

4. Lack of adequate guidelines - There are no established norms and criteria for the operation of e-rickshaws. The drivers of the e-rickshaws are not completely trained. This is a major source of concern in society.

5. Takes up a lot of space - The current design of an e-rickshaw takes up a lot of space. This would cause traffic congestion.

**Electric Three-wheelers require government assistance **

Electric auto-rickshaws can be provided with an advantage in tourist zones and institutional districts. This is possible with the assistance of local municipal groups and city officials. The travel demand study done for CMP can also be utilized to identify hotspots.

Allowing additional revenue from commercial adverts on electric vehicles while ensuring the aesthetic and pleasant design will motivate owners/drivers to switch their old vehicles to electric vehicles. The life cycle of electric vehicles is also an issue that has to be explored, as are battery disposal methods.

In reality, the number of recharging cycles has a significant impact on the life cycle of an electric rickshaw. After they have been utilized, these batteries can be employed for stationary charging methods such as grid-level storage.

The government should actively encourage electric auto rickshaws as a vital policy for urban transportation, as seen by the unregulated and amazing growth of e-rickshaws in several north Indian cities.

Indian officials are also working on laws to soothe e-rickshaw drivers, with the goal of increasing the number of battery swapping stations, which allow drivers to exchange exhausted batteries for newly charged ones in order to get back on the road quickly.

The government is committed to pushing the electric transition, even though transportation contributes to just around 10% of India's overall emissions, a far lower percentage than in nations such as Canada, where it accounts for 24%.

A lot depends on how India manages its transition to electric vehicles, as well as how the government addresses its more polluting industries, such as agriculture and power generation, which contribute significantly more emissions than transportation.