The world is celebrating its first ever 'World EV Day' today (September 9) with a focus on clean vehicles.

Speaking at a webinar, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said, "I believe that more the public transport, lesser the pollution. I use an electric two-wheeler and we bring our household goods using that vehicle. I urge people to use more electric vehicles."

"In Delhi, we also have electric three-wheelers which are of great significance. States must decide on these three things - using cleaner fuels, building good roads to ease traffic and ensuring that brick kilns use zigzag technology. It is also the states' responsibility," Javadekar said.

With almost every car maker of varying repute offering or planning to develop electric vehicles, the push towards clean mobility is firmly in place.

There are a number of great benefits to electric vehicles (EVs) over conventional petrol/diesel cars such as cheaper to maintain and run, less pollution, uses eco-friendly materials and reduced harmful exhaust emissions is good news for health.

Companies promoting clean mobility

From the past few years, various companies have made a shift towards electric vehicles and promoted clean mobility.

Recently, Uber Technologies Inc said every vehicle on its global ride-hailing platform will be electric by 2040, and it vowed to contribute $800 million through 2025 to help drivers switch to battery-powered vehicles, including discounts for vehicles bought or leased from partner automakers. Uber said that vehicles on its rides platform in the United States, Canada and Europe will be zero-emission by 2030, taking advantage of the regulatory support and advanced infrastructure in those regions.

BluSmart mobility also announced it had concluded India's first all-electric commercial vehicle journey from Delhi to Mumbai. BluSmart, an electric ride hailing platform, had flagged off a Mahindra e-Verito from Delhi on September 4 on a journey of 1,564 kilometres.

Apple unveiled a new feature of adding routing features to Maps that’s designed for electric vehicle owners at the virtual version of WWDC 2020, the company’s annual developer conference in June. The EV routing aims to eliminate range anxiety — the fear of running out of charge — by showing charging stations compatible to a user’s electric vehicle along their route.

India's stand on electric vehicles

India is taking strong steps towards pushing more electric vehicles. India aims to become a 100% electric-vehicle nation by 2030.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in August 2020 too, announced the 'Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy' with the aim of making the share of EVs in the state's in new car registrations reach 25% by 2024.

Kejriwal's EV plan includes waiving off registration fee and road tax, providing incentive of up to â‚¹1.5 lakh for new electric cars and of up to â‚¹30,000 on electric two-wheelers, autos, e-rickshaws and freight vehicle. The policy also envisages installation of 200 charging stations - one every three kilometres. 

According to a recent report, the government is mulling setting up at least one electric vehicle (EV) charging kiosk each at nearly 69,000 petrol pumps across the country to induce people to go for electric mobility. 

Besides, the government is also thinking of making it compulsory to install EV charging kiosks at all Company-Owned, Company-Operated (COCO) petrol pumps of state refiners.

The major benefit of electric cars is the contribution that they can make towards improving air quality in towns and cities. It's time people make a switch to electric vehicles!