By Suteekshna Dubey

Abstract

With improvements in battery technology, an expanding network of infrastructure for charging vehicles, and rising consumer demand, EVs are now a practical choice for many drivers worldwide. India is the third-largest vehicle market in the world, with a 7.1% GDP share. Anticipating a world dominated by electric vehicles, material scientists are working on two big challenges. First, is to cut down on metal because mining can pose social and environmental costs, and the second is to improve battery recycling for efficient use. The Government of India has initiated framing policies to promote EV production in India and the use of Lithium in battery manufacturing.

RISE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN INDIA

India’s domestic electric vehicle industry is expected to grow at a 49% compound annual rate (CAGR) between 2022 and 2030, according to the Economic Survey 2023 depicting strong growth in demand, better offers and availability of more attractive cars. According to the Government of India Vaahan portal, 999,949 EVs were sold in 2022. Several foreign businesses have also entered the market, joining prominent Indian automakers like Tata Motors, and Mahindra & Mahindra in the production of EVs.

Electric cars use alternative fuel electricity instead of petrol or diesel. The switch to electric vehicles has the potential to save the country $100 billion in fossil fuels every year, preventing the dependence on imported petroleum goods and reducing city pollution by 80–90%. India has set some goals to achieve this objective of harnessing EVs on its roads. By 2030 India will be a 100% electric vehicle nation.

According to Pankaj Sharma, Co-Founder and Director of lOG9 Materials, “India has been dependent on other countries for Li-Ion batteries and other EV components. Lithium is one of the core elements of Li-Ion batteries and taking into consideration the financial impact of sourcing Lithium, the recent discovery does come in as a new lease of life as it further enables India’s ambition to become self-sufficient in its energy storage needs.”

Recently, India’s Ministry of Mines announced the largest discovery of Lithium in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, which is around 5.9 million tonnes.

Rapid advancements in mining and production of electric vehicles (EVs) indicate a proactive stance taken by governments and manufacturing companies. As a result, traditional fuel-based vehicles may soon become obsolete on the roads due to this accelerated approach. 

ROLE OF LITHIUM IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES

As compared to other rechargeable batteries like Ni-Cd, Ni-MH, and Lead-acid batteries, Lithium-ion batteries have higher energy densities, long service life, and environmental friendliness so it is possible to make the battery size smaller than others while retaining the same storage capacity. However, a lot of batteries must be arranged in parallel and serial, to create a battery pack for high-power applications like EVs and energy storage systems,  

As of now, the first challenge for researchers is to reduce the amounts of metals that will be mined for EV batteries. According to data from the Argonne National Laboratory, a single-car lithium-ion battery pack (of the type known as NMC532) may contain 8 kg of lithium, 35 kg of nickel, 20 kg of manganese, and 14 kg of cobalt. Actual amounts depend on the battery type and vehicle model.

POLICIES PROMOTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND LITHIUM USAGE

With the E-Mobility Mission 2030, India hopes to decrease its reliance on fossil fuels, increase energy security, and enhance the general quality of life for its people. The government has taken several actions to increase the uptake of EVs, including subsidies for consumers, incentives for the producers of battery-operated vehicles, and the construction of charging infrastructure. One of the project’s main initiatives is the FAME – India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India) scheme, which was developed as part of the mission by the Department of Heavy Industry. The program, which was established in 2015, offers financial incentives to both EV and hybrid car manufacturers and buyers. For instance, the GST on electric vehicles (EVs) has been lowered from 12% to 5%, making them more accessible to customers. Additionally, it has exempted EVs from paying road tax and registration fees in various states. The scheme has four focus areas i.e., Technology Development, Demand Creation, Pilot Projects, and Charging Infrastructure.

The government’s initiative is to build the infrastructure needed to support EVs by setting up charging stations across the country, legislation encouraging private businesses to invest in charging infrastructure and hiring the top e-rickshaw loaders in India. To promote the research and production of EVs in the nation, the government also developed the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP).

The Government of India and the Indian Automotive Industry have jointly finalized the Automotive Mission Plan (AMP). The vision of AMP 2026 is, “By 2026, the Indian Automotive industry will be among the top three of the world in engineering, manufacture, and export of vehicles and components, and will encompass safe, efficient and environment-friendly conditions for affordable mobility of people and transportation of goods in India comparable with global standards growing in value to over 12% of India’s GDP and generating an additional 65 million jobs”.

CHALLENGES ON THE ROUTE TO EV

However, many obstacles must be addressed to achieve the ambitious target of 100% EVs by 2030.

One of the most significant issues is the high cost of EVs, which can be exorbitant for many users and needs to be addressed via incentives. Infrastructure requirements like the lack of charging stations need to be installed. Batteries have limitations like charging range, duration and availability of charging stations, like petrol pumps and gas stations in today’s times, which is going to be a challenge. There could be issues related to EV range and performance, consumers remain sceptical of EVs’ capacity, especially for long-distance travel. Awareness about the effectiveness of EVs among consumers and educating them about its impacts in the environment makes the transition a bit challenging.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS OF LITHIUM MINING AND BATTERY PRODUCTION

Due to the existing methods of extraction that need large amounts of energy (for lithium recovered from rock) or water (for lithium derived from brines), the rise in lithium mining raises environmental issues. However, more recent methods that use geothermal energy to extract lithium from geothermal water are thought to be safer. Despite this cost to the environment, mining lithium will help replace harmful fossil fuel extraction.

Researchers are more worried about cobalt, which is the most valuable ingredient of current EV batteries. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, mining accounts for two-thirds of the world’s supply. Human rights advocates have expressed worry about the conditions there, particularly with child labour and health risks to workers. Cobalt is dangerous if not handled properly, just like other heavy metals. Alternative sources, including the metal-rich ‘nodules’ found on the ocean floor, could be used, but they come with environmental risks. Additionally, nickel, again another crucial component of EV batteries, may experience shortages.

The IEA, a group known for its historically conservative predictions, published a study that featured a road map for achieving global net-zero emissions by the middle of the century, with the switch to electric transportation as a keystone. The belief that this is feasible reflects a growing concern among decision-makers, researchers, and manufacturers that obstacles to converting to electric vehicles can now be easily overcome and that we must act quickly if we are to have any chance of limiting climate change to a reasonable level. However, other academics claim that the environmental impact of the batteries in electric vehicles seems to be held to an unachievable standard.

TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT

With the government’s initiative in between various policies and budgetary allocations, lithium mining will establish a new mining regimen that needs to comply with multiple environmental accords. The world today is witnessing the impact of climate change with heat waves and floods. Carbon emissions and various other environmental and health problems could be controlled with the introduction of EVs on roads as it will significantly contribute to reducing pollution. 

Additionally, one of the key factors is that the affordability of EVs will depend on the cost of battery technology which will be high considering that batteries would not be present in abundance. To advance this affordability various central and state government incentives, subsidies, and tax benefits are being provided to consumers. With increased competition and economies of scale, the prices of EVs are expected to decrease further in the coming years. 

CONCLUSION

The demand for EVs will continue to rise and lithium is a critical resource to achieve this objective. The world today is taking a sustainable approach, and this could revolutionize transportation paving the way for a cleaner and greener future.  Continued research and development, government support, and private sector investments will play crucial roles in driving down the costs further and making vehicles viable and accessible transportation. Electric Vehicles have the potential to positively impact the environment and improve present conditions by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing air pollution, being more energy efficient than internal combustion engine vehicles, decreasing noise pollution, and dependence on imported oil. They will provide a potential market for excess renewable energy sources. 

Author’s Bio

Suteekshna Dubey is a final year law student (three-year LL.B. programme) at Jindal Global Law School. She is interested in changes around industrial, energy, and technology sectors, affecting public policy.

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