Abstract
Rural India accommodates 65 % of the total population with a greater commuting need compared to the urban counterparts. Given that India is heading towards a low-carbon sustainable mobility transition, possible ways to improve Electric Vehicle (EV) intervention and enhance public transport in rural areas are critical to understand. If the inclusion of rural India is delayed in the transition process, the rural-urban gap will continue to widen. The state of Rajasthan with its low per-capita income and a high share of rural population offers a potential case study. Selecting Banswara and Pratapgarh districts, I have assessed the mobility and infrastructure needs to recommend possible ways to improve the EV penetration and public commute in the rural areas. The study carries implications for the state EV policy (2022) of Rajasthan. The study draws insights from 25-30 stakeholder consultations across government officials, industrial players, academicians, financial institutes and civil societies and from primary data of 893 individuals across 194 households, following a qualitative thematic analysis. By identifying current challenges in EV adoption in rural Rajasthan, the study recommends that the affordability issue of EV two-wheelers can be dealt with through awareness campaigns and retrofitting opportunities. The demand for more robust public transport can be met by introducing EVs in the three and four-wheeler segment coupled with improved regulations and strategic infrastructure development. Extending policy support beyond the ‘non-attainment’ cities is likely to mainstream EVs in the rural landscape in future. We also recommend EV-specific loans in micro-finance for financial accessibility.
Presenters
Pracheta AcharyaResearch Associate, Energy and Climate, CUTS International, Rajasthan, India
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Technical, Political, and Social Responses
KEYWORDS
Case Study, EVs, India, Low-Carbon Transport, Rural Mobility
