Reducing Air Pollution via Smart Tech: Electric Vehicles for Transport

Fourteen out of the twenty most polluted cities in the world are in India, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). On top of the list is Gurugram.

This thriving financial and industry hub near New Delhi has the third-highest per capita income in India, but also the world’s most polluted air based on data by IQ Air Visual and Greenpeace.

Air pollution is a serious health hazard. Pollutants cause respiratory illnesses and other diseases. Air pollution is costing lives. Every year seven million people die from air pollution according to the World Health Organization.

Air pollution dampens socioeconomic progress, not just in India, but worldwide. The World Bank estimates that about 8.5 per cent of India’s GDP is eaten up by health care costs and productivity losses due to pollution.

Doing Your Part: Reducing Air Pollution via Electric Vehicles

When it comes to reducing air pollution, we all have to step up. One of the most promising initiatives in the fight against pollution is a focus on electric vehicles (EVs) for public transportation.

With advancements in battery technology and energy storage, most economies, including India, have started to introduce electric vehicles to lower carbon emissions while accommodating population growth with more environmentally friendly transportation systems. Electric vehicles are on top of the agenda of many smart city initiatives. They can offer a clean alternative for urban mobility and last-mile connectivity in suburbs and rural areas.

At SAP Labs India we are looking at electric vehicles as part of our own last mile: our fleet and employee commute. About ten years ago, we started using EVs to lower our carbon footprint and the footprint of our employees. We took first steps by installing charging ports for electric vehicles at our campus in 2010. Since then we have gradually expanded the use of EVs across as our three SAP Labs India locations.

We have 50 electric vehicles to date on our SAP Labs India campuses, with the plan to triple them by adding 100 electric vehicles by the end of this year. The vehicles are used primarily for employee transportation. They shuttle employees between buildings, connect them to train and bus stations, and provide airport transfers.

We have a lot to gain from adopting electric vehicles. Just looking at India, the country could reduce carbon emissions by 37 percent by 2030 with EV-based transportation solutions, according to a NITI Aayog report. Companies can do their part to create a healthier future by making employee transportation more environmentally friendly.