Silent Rides, Cleaner Air: The Impact of Lithium-ion Batteries on Three-Wheeler Transport in India

In the quiet moments of solitude, one can hear the whispers of the earth pleading for respite from the relentless assault of noise and air pollution.

The question is: How many are listening?

A Peek into the Recent Past

Let’s jog our memory a wee bit… It doesn’t take much effort because we are talking about the very recent past…

There we were, and probably still are – rushing from one chore to another, getting into our very own “Hop-on Hop-off ‘Desi’ Transport Service”, aka the Auto-rickshaw – quite a lifeline for our extremely busy urban lives! One hand clutching our bags, the other hand covering our nose, trying to block out those nasty fumes, unrestrainedly flowing out from all vehicles around us – including our own. If we had more hands, I’m sure we’d cover our ears too, to block out the annoyance of nerve-racking traffic sounds!

The cacophony and pollution of vehicles with internal combustion engines powered by fossil fuels, are indeed assaults on our ears, and attacks on our lungs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ambient air pollution accounts for an estimated 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide annually, with the majority linked to cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and lung cancer. Noise pollution too, has detrimental effects on our physical and mental health. It can lead to annoyance, stress, sleep disturbances, hearing loss, and other health problems. Additionally, prolonged exposure to high levels of noise has been linked to cardiovascular issues such as hypertension and heart disease. Thus, noise and air pollution are not just nuisances. They are silent killers, eroding the quality of life and threatening human health.

Amidst the discord of traffic, we have unfortunately missed out on the simple symphony of nature's tranquillity.

Where Do We Stand at Present?

Mercifully, the arrival of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, is slowly changing all this. The wheel has been set in motion for reducing noise and air pollution in our country, and the world at large. Thanks to government policies and technological advancements, there has been a slow transition to electric vehicles in India's transportation sector.

This blog puts the spotlight on Indian three-wheelers comprising of passenger e-rickshaws and cargo e-three-wheelers, as they have significantly led the way. In CY 2023, out of 10,78,279 three-wheelers (powered by petrol, CNG, LNG, and electricity) sold in India, e-three-wheelers accounted for 581,696 units i.e. a whopping 53.94% of total three-wheeler sales for the year. It’s encouraging to note that every second three-wheeler sale in India in CY 2023 was electric! Furthermore, e-three-wheeler buyers have topped the charts, accounting for 38% of Indian e-vehicle sales in FY 2023. Sales showed a 66% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in CY2023, rising 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.

This is indeed a happy victory for the battle against noise and air pollution, as electric vehicles significantly reduce both.

A Wishful Look into the Future

The transition from traditional fossil fuel-powered engines to electric ones, offers hope of potentially improving public health and the environment in our densely populated urban areas.

FY 2023’s record sales of over half-a-million e-three-wheelers, has fanned the flames of hope for transforming our polluted streets, through zero-emission transportation, and reduced noise pollution too. There is reason to believe that the three-wheeler robust double-digit growth will continue, thanks to consistent demand for passenger transportation, as well as end of supply chain operators for e-commerce applications, and food deliveries. Truth be told, individual motorists, as well as fleet owners are discovering that e-three-wheelers are proving to be a more affordable option than their gasoline counterparts. However, all other vehicle owners too, need to follow suit, if we are to once again hear the melodies of the earth, in pristine environs!

The Indian government's National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) aims at maximizing its EV fleet by 2030, by providing incentives to manufacturers and buyers of EVs, including tax exemptions and subsidies. This renews hope of cleaner air, thanks to the zero tailpipe emissions of lithium-ion powered EVs; and holds out the tangible promise of lower noise pollution, as EV’s are operationally more silent. It will additionally halt the indiscriminate use of fast-depleting non-renewable fossil fuels which adversely affect earth’s bio-diversity. Together, we can make the future greener, cleaner, and easier on the ears of our children, grand-children and beyond.

Our actions of today will gift our posterity, the invaluable ticket to hear the symphony of life, in the serene silence of unpolluted air, and undisturbed serenity.

Battrixx – Your Trusted Partner for Silent Rides and Cleaner Air

Together let’s return the earth to its resplendent glory.

At Battrixx, we take seriously, Mother Earth’s cry for deliverance from greenhouse gases and noise pollution. Hence, we focus on greener, cleaner, quieter energy systems, that are Smart, Scalable, and Safe – powering your rides and gadgets, without polluting the world. The fact that the ARAI Certification under AIS 156 Amendment III Phase 2 has been awarded to us, officially confirms that we incorporate the highest global standard requirements in designing, constructing, and testing of battery packs.

But that’s not all. At Battrixx, safety, energy efficiency, sustainable technology, environmental protection, and value for money – are all high on our priority list. Hence our lithium-ion battery packs are carefully crafted using advanced Battery Management Systems.

Furthermore, we understand that needs vary and therefore offer customization of our battery packs which are scalable in terms of capacity and voltage, making them adaptable to counter challenges of space, range and budget, without any compromise on safety or performance. The Ah capacity comes in a range of 25-32 Ah and 50-64 Ah. Similarly Voltage can be scaled from 36 V to 72 V. Battrixx also offers Dual Power battery packs that are engineered for safety. A patented, double-layer, cell-level safety fuse trips in case of abnormal heat build-up, to prevent mishap. This multi-level protection makes it one of the safest battery packs in the market.

Our ‘Intelligent Batteries’ are embedded with CAN communication technology which allows display, detection and storage of information like drive cycle current, voltage, temperature, fault diagnostics, etc. – important information that can prevent accidents and protect the lives of the occupants and e-vehicles too.

Browse through our website www.battrixx.com to explore our range of green, clean, silent energy systems that power the full range of small and large Electric Vehicles, Golf Carts, Forklifts, Marine Batteries. Our batteries go beyond transportation, to even power Portable Devices, UPS, Telecommunication and more…

Let’s reclaim the beauty and peace of the natural world by going electric.

Revel in the peace of silent rides and cleaner air, as we aim to restore the freshness and harmony of our dear Mother Earth.