Ghaziabad, 17 June (HS): In India, MHDVs (medium and heavy-duty vehicles) account for only two percent of all road vehicles yet contribute more than 45% of total road emissions. In Delhi, where vehicular pollution has reached critical levels, Transport and Environment Minister Kailash Gahlot stated in October 2023 that the Electric Vehicle Policy 2.0 will target commercial vehicles to relieve the problem, with the objective of getting all vehicles electric by 2030.
The same year, the nation's capital registered a total of 6,57,312 vehicles, 73,610 of which were electric. For grassroots players like Naseeb Singh (36), a truck driver who traverses the Haryana-UP-Delhi route, discussions about green technologies and transportation decarbonisation take time to gain traction.
For drivers and others in his trucking community, the well-being of their families and communities, the effect of pollution on their health, the comfort of driving, the ease of maintenance, and the cost efficiency take precedence. The 'Nayi Soch Ki Sawaari' initiative to raise awareness about electric trucks among people like Singh and his peers is laying the groundwork for larger conversations by addressing their immediate concerns.
There have been several discussions about how India's energy security plan may lead to the country becoming energy independent by 2047 using a variety of techniques, including the use of electric vehicles. The International Council on Clean Transportation has emphasized on the role Heavy Duty Trucks (HDTs) may play in this aspirational transition to a more sustainable energy environment, warning that if no additional policy intervention is implemented, HDT emissions in India may treble by 2070.
Although Singh does not consider these national policy issues to be urgent, he fully acknowledges the good impact that electric transportation may have. Naseeb Singh, being more educated, thinks, "Electric cars represent a wonderful development. That is why numerous businesses are preparing to introduce new electric automobiles. One of the advantages is that drivers of electric cars will presumably be able to earn a consistent, higher pay since they will not have to resort to severe cost-cutting measures as they do when driving diesel vehicles. Electric trucks are also easier to drive, making them more pleasant for drivers. They benefit the environment by protecting it from contamination. These vehicles will also bring significant relief to owners by substituting expensive non-renewable fuels such as diesel with renewable and cost-effective energy.? Naseeb is one of over 2,000 truck drivers in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chandigarh who are beginning to debate electric mobility as an intriguing notion that they want to learn more about.
In Delhi NCR, nearly 200 participants from the trucking community gathered at locations like ICD Container Depot in Tughlakabad, Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, and areas surrounding logistics hubs that witness brisk truck movement. 'Nayi Soch Ki Sawaari', with support from Child Survival India, is providing drivers with insights into the advantages of electric trucks through a variety of tools and events, including live discussions, art competitions, and life-sized versions of boards.
The program also includes the YouTube channel 'EV OK Please,' which serves as an educational resource for the trucking community, providing in-depth insights on electric mobility.
Kritica Mahajan, Manager at Nayi Soch Ki Sawaari, elaborates on how the project is also attempting to grasp the problems associated with the use of such vehicles from the bottom up. In India's road freight business, there is currently insufficient information available concerning electric trucks. We want to understand the fundamental difficulties that drivers and fleet owners encounter on a daily basis, rather than pushing them to accept a viewpoint that they are not yet ready for. We hope to stimulate discourse and inspire people to ask questions about this technology.
She explains that only once their questions are answered will people feel prepared to make educated decisions about energy transition in the future. The program has garnered backing from local transportation groups and logistics suppliers, and many more awareness seminars will be hosted around Delhi in the coming months. Similar activities have been planned for Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan.
The Nayi Soch ki Sawaari campaign aims to raise awareness about electric vehicles among the trucking sector. The trucking community is a thread that binds the country. Nayi Soch Ki Sawaari extends this growth beyond decision-makers to the end user. The program intends to emphasize the possible impact that sector reform might have, particularly on drivers, assistants, mechanics, and other stakeholders that keep the industry going.
