Mumbai: In the first initiative of its type, all-electric car rallies were held in Mumbai on Saturday as part of ‘Green Mumbai Drive-2021’, to reduce pollution in the country’s commercial capital, officials said.
The 110 km rally saw participation of more than 30 electric cars produced by various Indian and international companies and were marked by the Minister of Environment Aditya Thackeray, who himself drove an electric car.
Organized by Adani Electric Mumbai Ltd.
(Aeml), and autocar India, the rally is intended to create awareness among people about motorbikes with zero tail pipe emissions and support the policy of Maharashtra’s new electric vehicles announced in July.
Speaking on that occasion, Thackeray said that in recent years, there have been major developments in the field of electric vehicles.
Photo: SL Shanth Kumar (TOI) “The state government takes various steps through a new EV policy to ensure more residents use this vehicle with an emphasis on pollution reduction,” Thackeray urged.
He said there had been a good response for electric vehicles from all cities and efforts now being carried out to increase the number of charging stations.
The AEML and CEO of CEO of Kandarp Patel said that almost 30 percent of our carbon footprint came from transportation.
“As a Mumbai electric utility, we aim to lead the way in strengthening the Mumbai transition to electricity mobility with the aim of drastically reducing carbon emissions,” Patel said.
Aeml has and operates the 15 EV fleet and is committed to just buying EV for all future requirements wherever it is worth it, he added.
Photo: SL Shanth Kumar (TOI) Autocar Editor & Publisher Hormazd Sorabjee said carbon dioxide is the root cause of global warming and the only way to reduce it by removing hydrocarbons where the internal combustion engine runs.
“EV became popular globally because there is a target to reduce carbon dioxide and the best way is through alternative energy sources.
The aim of the Green Mumbai Drive 2021 is to increase awareness about the role of EVS can play in reducing CO2 emissions and combating climate change” Sorabjee said .
The unique EV rally starts with a zooming vehicle off from Mahalakshmi Racecourse and ends in Vikhroli through the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai’s main green lung, turning my head on the way.
It saw participation of around 30 EVs, produced by Indian and foreign companies including Tata, Tesla, Volvo, Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes, MG, Hyundai and others.