Today, the World Environment Day, is an apt day to take stock of where we stand, and what needs to be done to protect planet Earth. According to WHO, climate change is expected to cause around 250,000 deaths annually due to heat stress, diarrhoea, and undernutrition alone. The ongoing summer in India is maybe a sign of things to come. That’s the not-so-good part. The good part is we still have time to act, and act efficiently and fast as time is ticking away.
Reducing GHG emissions ‘through better transport, food and energy use choices can result in very large gains for health, particularly through reduced air pollution’, says WHO..
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), transport emissions grew 1.7% on an annual average, from 1990 to 2022. The emission growth rate is the highest among end-use sectors, matched only by the industry emission growth rate. Independent research agency ICCT (The international Council on Clean Transportation) estimates that heavy-duty vehicles contribute around 58% of India’s on-road transport emission. So, what’s the way forward? Rajendra Petkar, industry veteran and President and CTO,Tata Motors shares his views on the CV industry’s transition, including his own company.
Read More: Environment Day Special: 'We are re-imagining our entire product portfolio and operations to achieve net-zero emission by 2045’
Enhancing Efficiency of EVs
It’s estimated that half of India’s population will live in urban centres by 2050. Extremely important reason that urban mobility therefore also gets much more efficient and cleaner. EVs could be a major part of our mobility options by then. The following story by Syed Shazil Hussain delves on how smart technology in EVs can drive efficiency and sustainability of EVs.
Read More: World Environment Day 2024 | Smart technology in E-Mobility: Enhancing efficiency and sustainability
Leveraging New-age Tech for Sustainability
Sustainability is not only about tailpipe emissions. It’s also about minimising or optimising investments, and enhancing efficiencies. Find out in the following story by Sindhu Bhattacharya how tyre major Apollo is conserving millions of INR leveraging AI and ML, in its sustainability journey.
Read More: Machine learning and AI save INR 1 cr for Apollo Tyres daily in capex
Towards more convenient (and hopefully accident-free) mobility era
At ETAuto, we have been closely and consistently tracking the Autonomous Driving megatrend, among others. The goalpost seems to have moved for the Autonomous Driving megatrend, with the technology concept facing its share of challenges. However, OEMs, be it a legacy player like Ford, or a new-age carmaker like Tesla, are still pushing the envelope. The following set of international stories bring the details on how, and where, they are doing so.
Read More: In 2 years, drivers will be able to take their eyes off the road: Ford
Read More: Tesla makes push to roll out advanced FSD self-driving in China
And, General Motors (GM), one of the oldest carmakers in the world, is at it too, despite the challenges with Autonomous Driving start-up Cruise where it invested big billions. GM elevating people to help it have a successful drive with autonomous vehicles, as well as with electrics and connected vehicles.
Read More: General Motors promotes ex-Apple leaders to drive technology initiatives
Will China lead in Driverless-car too?
China has established itself as the world’s largest EV market, through some very focused policy interventions. In the new era, there seems to be consistent efforts by the country to emerge as a mobility technology leader too. And, it could be trying to do that with autonomous vehicles, the most radical automobile technology concept yet.
Read More: China gives first approvals for public trials of advanced autonomous driving
Mobility innovation in India too
Fully autonomous vehicles in India, one of the most challenging markets for the technology, may not be impossible, but it’s still a distant dream. What may be not is a dream to fly to work, or to catch a flight from the airport in India. Air taxi service may be literally a couple of years away in India. How? Find out in the story below.
Read More: DGCA starts work on making air taxis reality here by 2026
Innovations, disruptive technology developments taking place galore across the world. What will count as the biggest contributions by them are the ways how they also help address the environmental challenges that the world is facing.
That’s all we have in this week’s edition of our technology-focused newsletter. Kindly share your feedback, suggestions on sumantra.barooah@timesinternet.in. Wishing you good health and safety this World Environment Day, and always!
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