Celebrating World Environment Day: The Role of EVs in Reducing Plastic Waste in India


World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5th to raise awareness and action for the protection of our planet. This year, the theme of World Environment Day is "Solutions to plastic pollution" and is hosted by Côte D'Ivoire. One of the ways to achieve this goal is to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable alternatives.


India is one of the world's fastest growing oil markets and also one of the most polluted countries. According to a study by IQAir, 22 of the world's 30 most polluted cities are in India. The transport sector is a major contributor to this problem, accounting for about 15% of India's carbon dioxide emissions and 40% of its particulate matter emissions. Therefore, switching to electric vehicles (EVs) can have a significant impact on improving the environment and public health in India.


EVs can help reduce plastic pollution by reducing the demand for oil and its associated plastic waste. Oil extraction and refining processes generate significant amounts of plastic waste, including discarded drilling equipment, pipelines, and containers. By reducing the demand for oil through the adoption of EVs, we can reduce the amount of plastic waste generated by these processes.


The Indian government has taken several initiatives to boost the growth of the EV sector in India and to achieve its aspirational goal of having at least 30% of private automobiles as EVs by 2030. Some of these initiatives include:


  • The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme which provides subsidies and incentives for EV manufacturers and buyers.
  • The National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) which aims to create a policy framework and infrastructure for EV deployment and manufacturing.
  • The National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage which focuses on developing a domestic battery industry and creating a network of charging stations.
  • The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme which offers financial incentives for domestic production of advanced chemistry cells and batteries for EVs.
  • The Green Tax which levies an additional tax on older and more polluting vehicles and exempts EVs from it.
  • The Goods and Services Tax (GST) reduction which lowers the tax rate on EVs from 28% to 5% and on EV chargers from 18% to 5%.


These policies have resulted in a rapid increase in the sales and production of EVs in India. According to the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), the total EV sales in India grew by 20% in FY 2020-21, reaching 2.36 lakh units. Out of these, 88% were electric two-wheelers, 10% were electric three-wheelers and 2% were electric four-wheelers. The EV market in India is estimated to be valued at $2 billion by 2023 and $7.09 billion by 2025.


The adoption of EVs in India can also boost the economy and create employment opportunities. According to a report by NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute, India can save $60 billion in oil imports by 2030 if it achieves its EV target. It can also reduce its oil demand by 156 million tonnes per annum by 2030. Moreover, the EV sector can generate 50 million direct and indirect jobs by 2030, according to Deloitte India.


The EV sector in India has a bright future and can play a vital role in reducing plastic waste through sustainable alternatives such as reusable batteries. By reimagining mobility, recreating infrastructure, reducing plastic waste through sustainable alternatives such as reusable batteries, India can celebrate World Environment Day with pride and optimism.

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