Tata Motors' Anand Kulkarni on why range anxiety is reducing

India’s annual consumption of petrol in the past decade has risen by 117% - furthermore, March 2024 saw India reach its second-highest level of petrol consumption, with a 6.9% year on year growth, reflecting the growing demand for personal and commercial mobility. Therefore, the de-carbonization of this sector through the adoption of electric mobility and clean fuels is imperative for India to meet its nationally determined goal of emerging as a net-zero carbon emitter by 2070, while simultaneously reducing the country’s reliance on petroleum imports to meet its energy needs.

All thanks to the rising cost of fossil fuels, conducive initiatives from the government in the form of incentives and subsidies, and a growing environmental sensitivity among consumers, the uptake of electric vehicles (EV) has seen consistent growth. Taking off from where they left off in FY 2024, which was a record fiscal with 90,335 units and a 90% year-on-year growth, Indian electric passenger vehicle segment has opened FY2025 on a good note, with a 10% growth year on year for the months of April and May.

Until now, range anxiety used to be a cause for concern for a fair share of prospective EV buyers in the country, the fear of running out of charge would loom large in the minds of many customers. In the four years since the beginning of the EV revolution, the growth of technology and the ecosystem has allowed the category to mature, removing doubts from the minds of the “doubting Thomases” and increasing the rate of adoption.

Technology augurs efficiency 

Long gone are the days when EVs ran on electricity stored in a series of lead acid batteries which required periodic maintenance and featured a relatively lower energy capacity of about 50 Watt-hour per kilogram despite their heft. The modern day Lithium-Ion battery boasts of energy capacity multiple times of that condition, leading to more energy capacities onboard, and consequently more available energy for propulsion. Although more advanced cell chemistries are being developed, the lithium-ion battery continues to be the current mainstay choice for today’s modern EVs the world over because of its high energy density of over 200 Watt-hour per kilogram.

Permanent magnets in motors, have made them more efficient as well and regeneration systems do wonders to convert the kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost, into electricity to augment battery charge, thus furthering the range of EVs significantly.

Software, in the form of battery management systems, is going a long way in improving the overall range of modern EVs. By optimising the thermal management of the batteries and employing machine learning and AI to study driving patterns, the overall range per charge can be maximized for these vehicles by finely modulating the energy consumption of the vehicle.  Batteries like to be maintained in the “Goldilocks” range of temperatures and advanced and complex cooling systems today do exactly that.

Whether it is specialized tyres with lower rolling resistance, or composite materials that help reduce the overall weight of the car, the technological advances with ancillary components are also contributing towards improving the range of EVs today. It will not be long before covering more than 400 km on a single charge becomes commonplace for these vehicles.

Widening Footprint of EV Charging Infrastructure

More than a decade ago, the early adopters of electric mobility in India faced immense challenges in terms of finding charging stations for their EVs.

Since then, things have come a long way in terms of EV charging-related infrastructure, and as of today, India has over 10,000 public chargers spread across the country, and more than 65% national highways have a fast charger within 100 km. Through the collaboration of OEMs and other stakeholders, this number is expected to further grow to 1 Lakh charging stations by end of the decade.

At Tata.ev, we are collaborating closely with Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) in select cities to offer solutions tailored to large communities, ensuring accessibility even for individuals without dedicated parking spaces. This initiative aims to provide common solutions that cater to the diverse needs of urban dwellers. We call this a community charging solution, and strongly believe that community chargers are the way to go for societies in a cluster, allowing residents to reap the benefit of a charging facility.

Furthermore, offices, malls, and residential complexes are increasingly setting up charging stations within their premises for electric vehicles. Due to innovative digital solutions like mobile apps, EV owners can now easily find the nearest charging station at the touch of a button. Technology has democratized access to recharging infrastructure, and this is certain to bolster electric mobility adoption in India.  

Way Forward

India’s departure away from fossil fuels and towards clean mobility is of a gargantuan scale, making it amongst the largest of its kind across the world. With such a tectonic shift in technology and energy consumption, driving awareness and education are vital to improve consumer confidence in this relatively nascent form of transportation.

In this regard, the industry as a collective has admirably come together to work towards building an ecosystem that has helped instill confidence amongst fence sitters and those who have had their concerns about the EV infrastructure in the country. Such collaborations between various players have helped move the needle towards eradicating range anxiety, which is now largely an unfounded bottleneck that has no real reason to exist, especially in urban areas across India.

The availability of EVs in the appropriate range capability at the right acquisition price means that the value equation is shifting. Technology and parameters mentioned above have come together in resolving these equations to a large extent. A large number of customers today are realizing how EVs are a viable option, and as they experience the vehicles and get used to the benefits, the range anxiety gradually gives way to enjoying the advantages of the electric drive. We are in the midst of a silent revolution, and will only accelerate rapidly in the next couple of years.  When that inflection point happens, there will be nothing to stand in the way of a cascading transformation to electric mobility.

Anand Kulkarni is Chief Products Officer, Head of HV Programs and Customer Service, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd. Views expressed are those of the author.