Quiet Revolution: Lithium-Ion Battery-Powered Three-Wheelers and Their Role in India's Transportation Evolution

The Lithium-ion Battery Revolution rings in the softer positive connotations of the word ‘Revolution’, quite unlike its historical links with revolt, riot, mutiny etc. It’s heartening that the Lithium-ion Revolution stimulates development, reform and a welcome transformation. Far too long has the earth sustained the travails of noisy vehicles and ultra polluting transport fuels. The advent of lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles holds out hope for a quieter, cleaner, sustainable future for Mother Earth and all living beings.

Electric Three-wheelers Leading India’s Transport Evolution

Let’s train our attention on the three-wheeler sector comprising of passenger e-rickshaws and cargo e-three-wheelers (E3Ws). Reports reveal that one in every five three-wheelers sold globally in 2023, were electric, and it’s a matter of pride that India accounted for nearly 60% of these sales! This was significantly due to the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME II) subsidy scheme. Among other reasons that fueled the double-digit growth, were the consistent demand for passenger transportation, as well as last-mile operators for e-commerce applications, food deliveries, etc. The transition took wings, as individual motorists, as well as fleet owners, discovered that e-three-wheelers are a more affordable option over the longer horizon.

CY 2023 saw sales achieve a 66% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth, moving from 350,238 units in CY 2022 to over 581,000 units, as per the Government of India’s Vahan portal on 31st December 2023. Out of 10,78,279 three-wheelers (powered by petrol, CNG, LNG and electricity) sold in India, e-three-wheelers sales were 581,696 units, accounting for 53.94% of total three-wheeler sales in CY2023. This translates into every second three-wheeler sale in India in CY 2023 being electric! What makes electric three-wheelers the leaders, is that they accounted for 38% of Indian electric vehicle sales in FY 2023.

What the Numbers and Benefits Foretell

A peek at the more recent trends of CY 2024, is encouraging.

ELECTRIC 3-WHEELER SALES IN CY2024 YTD
Year	January	February	March	April	May	June	Total
CY2024	53,458	50,644	60,801	42,027	54,732	52,305	3,13,967
CY2023	34,394	36,086	45,350	38,169	44,698	48,153	2,46,850
% change	55%	40%	34%	10%	22%	9%	27%
Data: Vahan, July 1, 2024, 6am

With the first half of 2024, registering monthly average sales of over 52 K units, chances are, that e-three-wheeler sales will hit the 6-lakh mark at the close of CY 2024. However, we must keep in mind that FAME II subsidies ended on 31st March 2024, although en extension is expected in the form of FAME III. For the interim, the Government’s new Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS), with validity from April 1 to July 31, 2024, and an outlay of Rs 500 crore, has played its part, with its aim to support the purchase of 372,000 EVs including 333,000 two-wheelers and 38,828 three-wheelers (L5 category).

The numbers tell us that e-three-wheelers have played a significant role in India’s transport evolution. The subsidy-driven growth may slow down, as subsidies get reduced or withdrawn, but growth fuelled by long-term cost savings, generates fresh hope for this sector, with E3W motorists experiencing long-term cost containment in terms of maintenance and operating expenses.

The Silent Revolution of Lithium-ion Battery Powered Three-Wheelers

The lithium-ion battery powered revolution has played a significant role, quietening our noisy streets, reducing harmful emissions, and transforming the world. This revolution dons multiple caps: Environmental, Financial, Technological, and Social. Let’s understand the impact of this silent yet momentous revolution on each of these fronts.

Environmental Impact

1. Cleaner Air

Lithium-ion battery-powered three-wheelers bring down air pollution, thanks to their zero tailpipe emissions. They are beacons of hope for us and our planet, as vehicles run on fossil fuels, resulted in air pollution reaching dangerous levels.

2. Brings Down Noise Pollution

Three-wheelers run on fossil fuels require an internal combustion engine, which creates a cacophony, increasing noise pollution, whereas E3W rides are more silent, and thus reduce the strained decibel levels, especially in our cities.

3. Eco-friendly, Waste Reducing, and Recyclable

Li-on batteries are gentler on the environment as they don’t indiscriminately use endangered depleting non-renewable natural resources. Besides, their long lifespan means lesser replacements, which reduces waste generation. Their recyclability too, helps contain waste generation.

Li-on batteries are therefore eco-friendly on multiple counts.

Financial Impact.

1. Lower Operating Costs

Operating costs of e-three-wheelers are lower than their counterparts, as electricity is generally more economically priced than petrol or diesel.

2. Lower Maintenance Expenses

E3Ws have fewer moving parts, which reduces maintenance costs over its long life-span, translating into long-term savings. Hence, they are a better financial choice, than their counterparts that are powered by fossil fuels, or lead-acid batteries.

3. Government Incentives

Motorists and manufacturers have experienced the positive financial impact of this revolution, thanks to the Indian Government incentivizing E3Ws, via various subsidies and schemes like FAME I and II (possibly FAME III too), and EMPS.

Technological Impact

1. Battery Technology

The widespread support for lithium-ion battery powered vehicles, has spurred rapid technological progress, with a focus on higher energy density, longer lifespan, and faster charging of batteries. These benefits make E3Ws more convenient for daily commutes.

2. Charging Infrastructure

This revolution has also spurred technological progress for the much-needed development of extensive charging infrastructure. Governmental and private sector efforts are on, to rapidly increase charging station networks across the country, as it is extremely important to sustain this quiet revolution.

Social Impact

1. Improved Public Health

The lower air and noise pollution thanks to E3Ws, will lead to less stress, as well as reduce the incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, thus promoting better public health.

2. Employment Generation

The advent of E3Ws powered by lithium-ion batteries, has augmented employment as well as entrepreneurial opportunities. New manufacturing facilities for producing E3Ws, Charging Infrastructure, and Lithium-ion Batteries, have opened up employment in the manufacturing sector; and maintenance centres and charging stations have increased employment in the service sector.

What the Future Holds

The quiet E3W revolution is expected to continue its positive trajectory, as it enjoys the support of Government, Technologists, Environmentalists, Manufacturers, and even individual motorists, and fleet owners. The last two categories are increasingly learning from the long-term cost saving experiences of the early movers to E3Ws, as they are consistently saving money with ongoing lower operating and maintenance expenses.

The Indian Government’s ambitious target of 30% EV penetration by 2030, as well as their vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, necessitates the creation of a robust R&D landscape that can enable the creation of a self-reliant domestic EV ecosystem. Indian policy makers are clearly focussing attention on an electric India – don’t get left behind!

It’s high time therefore, to transition to E3Ws, because this is the future and in fact the future for all vehicles. Transition while you can still benefit from incentives, and even if you miss out on this, ensure early transition so that your long-term operating and maintenance expense come down. And don’t forget, you’ll be making your travel cleaner and healthier for yourself, everyone around you, and for Planet Earth too. We owe it to our posterity, to gift them a cleaner, greener, less noisy world.

For all your lithium-ion battery needs, you have a safe and reliable partner in Battrixx. Let’s together make transportation more sustainable, in order to make the world a better place for us and for future generations. Battrixx is a one stop shop for all lithium-ion battery needs, as our batteries efficiently and economically power all kinds of Electric Vehicles: Bicycles, Two-Wheelers, Three-Wheelers, Cars, Passenger Vehicles, Light Commercial Vehicles, Tractors, Golf Carts, Forklifts, and Marine Transportation. We also power Portable Devices, UPS, and Telecommunication Systems.

Battrixx Li-on batteries are designed and manufactured to the highest global automotive standards, as confirmed by the ARAI Certification under AIS 156 Amendment III Phase 2 awarded to us. Our batteries come equipped with Battery Management Systems (BMS), as keeping you ahead of the safety curve is our constant endeavour. Battrixx also stays abreast of the latest in technology, to keep you and your vehicle safe from short circuits, cell overvoltage and under voltage, charge/discharge overcurrent, and over/under temperature.

Visit our website www.battrixx.com to explore the full range of our offerings – for EV Manufacturers as well as individual motorists