Kolkata, 20th August, 2023: On the occasion of World Zero Emission Day, SwitchON Foundation in partnership with Jadavpur- Ranikuthi /Tollygunge Auto Union, organized a roundtable discussion on Auto drivers transition to Electric Autos to understand the interest, challenges and issues of auto drivers to adopt a sustainable mode of transportation. The workshop brought together key stakeholders from various auto unions, government agencies, and mobility experts. The discussion highlighted the challenges, opportunities and solutions in adopting and encouraging electric vehicles by the auto unions.
The roundtable discussion was attended by Councilor -Ward No.-93, Smt. Mousumi Das; Secretary, Jadavpur- Ranikuthi /Tollygunge Auto Union,Mr. Surajit Majumder ; Mobility expert from ASAR, Mr. Sidhartha Sreenivas; Bicycle Mayor Purba Bardhaman, Mr. Sandipan Sarkar and auto drivers of Kolkata. Auto Union of Jadavpur-Ranikuthi & Jadavpur Tollygunge Shakha also attended the workshop.In the meeting it was discussed that transportation is one of the major causes of air pollution in the city, therefore there is the need to promote clean transport and transitioning to electric vehicles from petrol vehicles/ LPG/ CNG would be a key step forward.
Mr. Vinay Jaju, Managing director of SwitchON Foundation said, “ Empowering and disseminating knowledge to auto drivers with the knowledge and tools needed to adopt electric vehicles is the core of this workshop, long with understanding their challenges. We look forward to work with all stakeholders to create a ecosystem to support auto drivers in their transition, providing guidance and linking resources to make this switch seamless and cost effective.”
Kolkata it has only 5,895 petrol hybrids (use a combination of petrol and electricity to power a car), 4,254 diesel hybrids (the technology where a generator is driven by the diesel internal combustion engine to produce energy for an electric motor in a vehicle), 35,999 e-Rickshaws, 1,240 two-wheelers, 93 four wheelers, 93 buses, and 24 trucks belonging to the EV population (Electric Vehicle Policy, 2021) The commencement of electric mobility will introduce a unique opportunity to deploy the electricity infrastructure for accelerated and cost-effective mobility.
According to Niti Ayog, in a metropolitan city like Kolkata, three wheelers are not just a mode of commute but serve as the lifeline for several people formally or informally disposed of their use. 79% of the total EV presence in India is contributed by the three-wheeler EV segment.
Smt. Mousumi Das, Councilor -Ward No.-93 said, “This workshop can prove to be a significant step towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future for our city. The knowledge and insights gained during this workshop will empower our auto unions to embrace electric mobility, benefiting them in several ways.”
Mr. Surajit Majumder, Secretary Auto Union Jadavpur- Ranikuthi /Tollygunge Shakha commented, “ I am truly excited about the prospects of transitioning to electric vehicles. This workshop has provided us with essential knowledge to navigate the shift towards electric mobility. We are now more aware of the subsidies and the government Policies in place for EV. We acknowledge that it will not only reduce our operational cost but also contribute to a cleaner environment.”
The event aimed to bring a proactive and practical approach in adopting and encouraging electric autos within the city. Various invaluable insights were shared in the workshop like charging infrastructures, government incentives on EV thereby facilitating a better understanding of EV technology.
SwitchON Foundation released a study on “Auto driver’s willingness to shift to Electric Vehicles” which was a research analysis of 164 auto drivers to understand the opportunity to replace the CNG auto rickshaws with an alternative zero emission technology. The aim of the study was to comprehend the disposition of auto drivers in Kolkata to shift to more eco-friendly fuels. This report caters to a plethora of auto drivers’ willingness to switch to sustainable fuel from pollution-prone fuels. It aims to make auto drivers understand the magnitude of this pressing problem and motivate them to take immediate action.
The results of the study show that considering all operational pros and cons, health and environmental improvement, and the respondents understanding of EVs, 59% of the auto drivers were willing to shift to clean energy if they are helped with getting the right vehicle and subsidies or loan sanctioned without them getting harassed in the process. A smooth transition is all that the respondents have demanded.
Some of the crucial findings of the study are mentioned below:
- 75% of the auto drivers are found to be driving auto for 6-10 hours daily
- An average of 7.27 km is traveled by the autos of the selected drivers in the specified routes.
- 80% of auto drivers prefer to drive for longer hours which brings in more income
- 100% of auto drivers who are above 60 years of age, had to pay fines due to the lapse of their Pollution Under Control Certificate renewal
- 68% of willing auto drivers were primarily aware of what an Elrctic Auto is, and 32% either didn’t know or had feeble knowledge of the same
- As far as health is concerned, 63% of auto drivers complained of difficulty in breathing.
SwitchON Foundation has come up with a few recommendations that can be adopted for achieving a smooth transition from the current mode of mobility to a sustainable mode of mobility through electric vehicles.
- Auto drivers need to be made aware of the properties and functions of electric vehicles
- EVs need to be subsidized by the government to promote the sales of EVs in a competitive automobile market
- The availability of subsidized loans for auto drivers who are inclined to the transition will also motivate other drivers toward the change
- There should be an exemption from taxes to support the sale of EVs in the country
- Setting up proper charging stations that are convenient to access or available on auto-prone routes
- Acknowledgment of environmental damage imposed by vehicular emissions
Media Dossier
Contact: Vinay Jaju | M: +91 9331178105 | Email: VJ@SwitchON.org.in
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