With the current situation of global climate change and unreliable fuel market, everyone is moving towards an electric-based mobility solution, one that entails a nation to overhaul major infrastructure, establish high financial funded analysis, amend government laws, and adapt offered resources to rework its gasoline-based facility to an electrical one.
Sustainability is becoming a top mandate for industrialists across the world. As per a report by MIT Centre for Transportation & Logistics, more than 80% of the 1,100 industry leaders surveyed said sustainability is now an important issue.
The massive growth and adoption of electric vehicles (EV) have not only made them the most promising future mobility option, but also the future of the 100 smart Indian cities already in the works. And, that includes electrifying India’s $160 bn logistics sector.
India is rapidly building infrastructure to promote EVs as the new means of transport in line with the country’s pledge to reduce 40% of its fossil fuel consumption by 2030. One EV reduces up to six tonnes of CO2 emission per year. India’s EV market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 90% in this decade to touch $150 bn by 2030, according to a report by RBSA Advisors. India's shift to shared, electric and connected mobility could help the country save nearly one giga-tonne of CO2 emissions by 2030.
Efficiency Of EV In Last-Mile Logistics
In the case of last mile logistics and doorstep deliveries, EVs have played a key role during the pandemic. For consumers, EVs enable them to optimise their deliveries, and allow them to operate for more trips, lesser maintenance, and service support. Further, given the continuous surge in consumer fuel prices, EVs can easily help reduce vehicle running costs as compared to ICE vehicles.
To understand this better, an average electric two-wheeler can be fully charged for approximately 14 paise, and travel between 60-70 km. On the other hand, a petrol-based motorbike needs more than a litre of petrol to travel the same distance. Thus, the economic benefits of EVs in the long run are compensated by their initial high acquisition. Top this with reduced carbon footprint and EVs become an attractive proposition.
EVs are far less complex vehicle structures and can easily help customers reduce hidden costs by modern technologies and software for fleet tracking, battery health & optimization and telematics, as they are easier to integrate with sensors. Given the huge savings on fuel intake and asset utilisation costs, EVs can also play a major role towards low cost last mile delivery in the coming days. This will lead to easing of retail prices of several items as logistics is a key component in the cost mix. The shift is already happening.
Does Monsoon Affect The Efficiency Of EVs?
Electric cars pose no threat of electric shock and are not dangerous to drive in the rain. Likewise, EVs are safe to drive through water. The batteries and accompanying electrical systems in EVs are isolated, and equipped with extensive safety systems that automatically shut-off power and insulate the battery packs, when a collision or short circuit is detected. It is pretty much impossible, under normal working conditions, for water to come into direct contact with the batteries themselves.
Most modern electric vehicles have resorted to putting the battery and other electrical components in the bottom section, one that is most likely to be exposed to flooding. However, the components are well-sealed, insulated, and are watertight, to ensure there’s no seepage of water.
Hence, monsoons will never impact the efficacy of your EV, unless not taken good care of. Your EV will easily survive the monsoon season with you taking care of things like:
- Charging the car in a dry and covered place;
- Charge your car in a shed or a garage, away from the rain;
- Ensure that the charger is dry and clean;
- Avoid charging during extreme weather conditions such as heavy thunderstorms or lightning;
- Always use an OEM-certified or original charger that comes with your EV. These come with in-built protective layers to work efficiently during such weather conditions.
In conclusion, one can be sure that adoption of EVs in last-mile logistics will never be impacted by the monsoon, as they are built for all seasons.
About the Author: Prasad Sreeram is the CEO & Co-Founder of COGOS, which claims to be digitally transforming city logistics by providing an AI/ML-based smart technology-enabled platform to enable businesses to organise it's highly un-organised sector of logistics.
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