The Electric Revolution

As early as 1884, the English inventor Thomas Parker was building prototype versions for an all-electric road car. Today, in 2021, the electric vehicle boom has surged, with the International Energy Agency estimating 145 million electric cars, vans, trucks and buses to be on the road by 2030. So what does this mean for the future? Will this be the year of the electric revolution?

I am a firm believer in the power of change to help us drive towards a brighter and cleaner future in which mankind has a huge role to play.

The Paris agreement was just one of the first steps in limiting global warming, but by no means was it the end goal. Countries have been called upon to join active international participation in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. This Earth Day, we saw messages of appeal from our global leaders, demanding us to collectively change our habits and help make our planet a more sustainable and livable place now and for future generations to come.

As global forces are joining in the quest to build a healthier future, the electric revolution is being pushed by governments on their road to green recovery, with some countries even offering subsidies for being environmentally conscious. The transport sector alone is responsible for around 16% of global CO2 emissions and contributes to the rising CO2 levels on Earth. Driving a more efficient car is just one of the many steps to take to address the increasing issue of global warming. Moving away from a conventional vehicle to move towards an electric vehicle has been said to significantly contribute to slowing down the effects of global warming by immediately reducing our carbon footprint.

So, if electric vehicles are a key part of a more sustainable future, then why are we not all rushing to get one?

There has certainly been a steady increase in electric consumers, but despite their critical role in the future of our planet, the number of EV's purchased each year is still relatively low. The world of electric is still to be explored, meaning the cost of electric vehicles is comparably higher than the conventional petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles. This will likely change over the next couple of years, with Indian Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, pointing out that the cost of electric vehicles will soon become as competitive as conventional ones. Although this may convert the minds of many to help gradually increase the momentum behind EV adoption, it seems that there is still concern regarding the adequate charging infrastructure needed in the push to make electric vehicles a global success.?

We have all seen them- the electric vehicle charge points are popping up in all major cities, but to keep pace with the growing e-mobility market, more charging infrastructure is needed. Industry figures show that in 2020, the EU installed around 224,538 public charging points, but as EV’s grow in popularity, many have commented that the rollout of public charging points has been too slow. Repurposing fuelling stations have been popular in Europe, but EV owners must be able to charge their vehicles conveniently and quickly. It is said that size-dependent, it can take up to 12 hours to fully charge an electric car, thus, long charging times mean that charging points must be in places where people can park their car for extended periods. Homes and workplaces are the likely contenders for easy charging, but building an EV charging station comes at a cost.

As the world is driving towards a greener future, industry leaders are looking to branch out into the production of alternative fuels.

Hydrogen could become the most competitive low-carbon solution for some sectors by 2030, playing an important role as a fuel for transportation. Researchers have discovered that hydrogen can be used as replacements for oil and gas, a fuel that is readily available and renewable, it could be the low-carbon e-fuel answer that we have been looking for. With India leading as one of the largest hydrogen producers in the world, the push to make hydrogen commercially viable is gaining momentum. With the focus on e-fuels to drive the zero-emission mandate, will hydrogen become the fuel of the future in the months and years to come?

Despite the few bumps in the road, given the progress that the EV industry has made over recent years, it is safe to say that the future is positively electric.

With the world looking forward, electric vehicles are the frontrunners of the race in drastically cutting carbon emissions, reducing noise pollution and clearing the way for significant climate progress. Global sales of electric cars accelerated in 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic and we saw some of the biggest companies in the world step up to join the electric revolution. Amazon's electric delivery vehicles have already hit the roads in part of the US, whilst Uber has announced their plan to operate a fully electric mobility platform in London by 2025 and across North America and Europe by 2030.

As one of the leading tyre manufacturers in the world, we must constantly innovate as the mobility sector evolves.

The Apollo Tyres global R&D teams headquartered in Tamil Nadu, Enschede and Raunheim have been working together to address the different requirements for EVs and hybrids to spearhead initiatives that will help drive the electric revolution. The transition to electric will have an impact on the future of manufacturing, changing the way in which we produce tyres today. Because of the batteries, electric vehicles weigh more than conventional petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles, putting more pressure on the tyres. EV's are a blessing for the planet, but not for conventional tyres. Conventional tyres on an electric vehicle wear out at a faster rate which is why Apolloites are working hard to develop tyres with increased resistance and reduced particle emissions that help contribute to the vehicles overall sustainability.?

This is likely only the beginning of what is to come. With innovation at its finest, we are seeing the development of new and exciting technologies that will pave the way and improve charging times and automation features to shape the future of electric vehicles and join the race of the electric revolution.