8OCTOBER 202483 PERCENT OF AUTOMOBILE BUYERS LOOKING TO BUY EV BY 2030: THE HARRIS POLLSTERLITE COPPER & GREEN LINE MOBILITY SOLUTIONS TO DEPLOY LNG VEHICLESArecent survey conducted by Urban Science and The Harris Poll has revealed that a majority of new car buyers in India are prepared to embrace new energy vehicles (NEVs), with 83 percent of prospective buyers considering purchasing an NEV by 2030. According to the study, these buyers are willing to pay up to a 49 percent premium for an electric vehicle (EV) over a comparable petrol or diesel vehicle.The survey, which gathered input from 1,000 Indian buyers as part of a global study that also included the US, Australia, China, and Germany, highlights a strong positive outlook for NEVs in India. This enthusiasm is primarily driven by the expansion of public EV charging infrastructure, which is rapidly growing in major cities and tier-2 cities across the country. Currently, India has over 6,000 charging stations, a number projected to rise to 100,000 by 2027.India's shift towards NEVs is also encouraged by the government's proactive policies in the EV segment. However, the survey pointed out that India's efforts to lead in the EV space face challenges, especially in comparison to China's dominance in producing lithium-ion batteries and electric motors and establishing large-scale charging infrastructure.To stay competitive, the survey suggests that India could collaborate with Chinese companies to leverage their expertise in EV technology, helping to accelerate the development of India's EV infrastructure and making electric vehicles more affordable and accessible. China's successful large-scale EV projects, such as city-wide electric bus fleets and extensive charging networks, offer a valuable model that India can learn from to fast-track its own transition to electric mobility.Sterlite Copper, a part of Vedanta Ltd, has teamed up with Green Line Mobility Solutions to introduce LNG vehicles for transportation. This collaboration is a major milestone in the company's continuous journey towards reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and cutting down on its carbon footprint as a part of its dedication to environmental, social, and governance principles."Sterlite Copper announced the launch of its LNG vehicles at the flag-off event held at Vedanta's Copper Plant in Silvassa," the company said in a statement.LNG vehicles will be utilized to transport finished goods to the northern zone, in a reverse logistics model, as a substitute for conventional diesel trucks. LNG trucks are increasingly acknowledged for their ability to lower GHG emissions in comparison to regular diesel trucks and help reduce particulate matter emissions by 90 per cent.Sterlite Copper asserted that they have decreased 2.10 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions in the fiscal year 2025 by switching from diesel trucks to LNG-powered vehicles.Sterlite Copper runs a Copper Smelter of 400,000 MTPA in Thoothukudi, Tamilnadu, along with a Refinery, Copper Rod Plant, Sulphuric Acid plant exceeding 12,00,000 MTPA, and a Phosphoric Acid plant of 220,000 MTPA. Sterlite Copper runs a coal-fired power plant with a capacity of 160 MW in Thoothkudi, Tamilnadu.TOPSTORIES
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