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Maruti Diesel Cars to be Phased Out: Are Electric Vehicles an Alternative to Diesel Cars?

Maruti diesel cars may stop being produced by 1 April 2020, which has given rise to the discussion on of Electric Vehicles could be an alternative to diesel

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DQINDIA Online
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Lithium Urban Technologies

Maruti diesel cars, which are one of the most preferred modes of transport amongst Indians, will most likely be phased out by 2020 announced RC Bhargava, Chairman and CEO, Maruti Suzuki. The company is apparently taking this decision as the cost of upgrading existing diesel engines to the BS 6 norms is quite high.

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The news has given rise to a lot of discussions on social media platforms. While several users are hailing the decision for it would be environment friendly, several others are worried as petrol would be a very expensive option. However, there is another option users could go for. Electric vehicles, though in its nascent stages in India, could be an alternative to diesel cars. The Government of India too realizes the potential held by the electric vehicles market and has announced a number of steps to incentivize and promote the deployment of the same.

Several users have also stated that they were ready to buy EVs if that would help reduce pollution. Let us take a look at some of the pros and cons of owning EVs.

Pros of Electric Vehicles

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  1. Electric vehicles are highly energy efficient.
  2. There are various innovations that are taking place in the EV Market. Thus, in the years to come, electric vehicles could also promise high performance at low maintenance costs.
  3. There is no involvement of fuel in EVs; hence this would lead to reduced emissions and therefore lesser pollution. Fuel prices could also come down if millions of consumers shift to EVs.
  4. EVs are less complex to manufacture as compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.

Cons of Electric vehicles

  1. Electric vehicles cannot travel for a long distance, and would need frequent charging.
  2. Lack of charging stations and infrastructure is an enormous problem in India as far as deployment of electric vehicles is concerned.
  3. Charging an electric vehicle and especially electric cars can take up to 6 to 8 hours.
  4. The cost of replacing the battery of an electric vehicle could cost up to 50 percent of the vehicle itself.
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That said, Indian automotive industry is already reeling under the effects of electrification or e-mobility. As per a NITI Aayog report, India could save 64 percent of energy demand for road transport and 37 percent of carbon emissions by 2030 by pursuing a shared, electric and connected mobility future.

By 2030, electrification could lead to electric vehicles (EVs including battery EVs, plug-in hybrid EVS, and hybrid EVs) holding a substantial share (up to 50 percent of new vehicle sales in a breakthrough scenario) of the global automobile sector.

However, in order to achieve that, a lot of Research and Development in the e-mobility sector is imperative. If better cost-effectiveness and operating ranges are indeed achieved by various EV players, electric vehicles could be a better alternative to diesel cars.

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