Shashi Tharoor reverses support for EVs on Kerala roads

Shashi Tharoor has sparked a heated debate by questioning the rush towards electric vehicles (EVs) in Kerala, a state often seen as a progressive leader in India’s sustainability efforts. In a recent post on X, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram challenged the Centre's aggressive push for EV adoption as part of its broader plan to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2034. While the government champions this shift as a key step in combating climate change, Tharoor’s remarks shine a spotlight on the underlying complexities of transitioning to electric mobility in a state that is far from ready for such a rapid overhaul. Is the push for EVs a well-intentioned but premature move, or is it a dangerous leap that overlooks Kerala's unique challenges? 

A future with EVs

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has been a strong advocate for electric vehicles, claiming that the central government plans to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2034. The goal, according to Gadkari, is to reduce India’s carbon footprint and encourage the use of cleaner, more sustainable alternatives to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

The government's push for EV adoption is in line with global trends and India’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. The transition to electric vehicles, the Centre argues, could help the country meet its emission reduction targets and also reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Rethinking on EV support

However, Mr Tharoor, who had previously supported the adoption of electric buses in Kerala, has now expressed reservations. In a recent announcement, he sided with the concerns raised by The State unit of the Congress party (Congress Kerala) on X, warning that an unbalanced or hasty EV policy could jeopardise India’s future. 

One of the key arguments being made by critics of the government's EV push is the environmental impact of the energy used to charge electric vehicles. While EVs themselves do not emit carbon dioxide during operation, the electricity required to charge their batteries often comes from coal-fired power plants, which are a significant source of carbon emissions.

The carbon emission debate

The argument put forward by Mr Tharoor and some members of the Congress party is that while EVs may seem like a cleaner alternative, their environmental benefits could be offset by the carbon emissions generated from electricity production, particularly if the demand for power increases and relies on coal. 

For example, the Tata Nexon EV Max, which has a range of 276 km on a full charge with a 40.5 kWh battery, requires around 50 kWh of electricity to charge fully. Critics argue that this 50 kWh of electricity would be generated using coal, leading to a significant amount of CO2 emissions. In fact, they claim that the process of charging an EV could result in carbon emissions 2.5 times higher than those produced by petrol or diesel vehicles for the same distance travelled.

The energy density of coal is approximately half that of petrol or diesel, and the efficiency of a coal-powered electricity plant is around 33%. Given these factors, critics estimate that around 26.7 kg of coal would be needed to charge an EV battery like that of the Tata Nexon, which is almost double the weight of petrol or diesel required for the same distance. This, they suggest, would increase the carbon footprint rather than reduce it.

The backdrop of renewable energy

Another challenge raised by critics is the capacity of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to meet the growing demand for electricity. While India has made significant strides in expanding its renewable energy capacity—currently, around 19% of India’s electricity is generated from solar and 10% from wind—these sources are not as reliable as coal for consistent, large-scale power generation. Solar energy, for example, is only available during the day, while EVs are often charged at night, creating a potential mismatch in power supply and demand.

The argument is that to support the widespread adoption of EVs, additional coal-based power plants may be needed to ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply. If this happens, the overall carbon emissions associated with EVs could increase significantly, undermining the environmental benefits that they are supposed to offer.

A delicate balance

The debate between the Centre’s push for EV adoption and the concerns raised by Tharoor and others underscores the complexities of transitioning to a low-carbon economy. While the government’s vision of a future with electric vehicles is rooted in the desire to reduce carbon emissions and curb air pollution, the environmental impact of charging these vehicles is not as straightforward as it might seem.