In efforts to increase the adoption of electric vehicles, Delhi transport department has been working to begin a feasibility study on converting government trucks to electric trucks in order to reduce Delhi’s pollution levels.
The International Council on Clean Transportation or ICCT will begin the study next week.
It’s recommendations will be presented in a few months.
Amit Bhatt (ICCT India managing director) explained the idea behind this study, “We’re trying to see if there is a way, we can electrify government trucks such as garbage disposal trucks and water tanks, horticulture vehicles.”
“We will measure their energy consumption in order to know the type of battery and charging infrastructure they will require when they electrify them.”
Bhatt said that trucks emit a lot and they need to be electrified. “We have finished the data collection and will begin the study shortly,” he continued.
He said that as part of the research, a device on board will be installed to capture data about the vehicle’s mobility profile and its energy consumption at different phases. The data will then be simulated using our software, and we will study how much of a benefit it will bring.
The size of the battery required will be determined by the cost. Also, charging infrastructure will be required. He said that the government will install the devices in 10 to 15 vehicles.
Bhatt stated that between 50,000 to 70,000 trucks enter Delhi each day, and it’s important to reduce their emissions.
He said that most cities encourage electric vehicles for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, but not trucks.