- by Arijit Sen, Josh Miller, Anup Bandivadekar, Mukesh Sharma, Pavan Kumar Nagar, Dhirendra Singh, and Jennifer Callaha

The study examines the potential emissions impacts of widespread vehicle electrification in India as part of efforts to combat air pollution and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. By estimating vehicle tailpipe emissions and power sector emissions under various scenarios, the report demonstrates that an ambitious pathway with electric vehicles (EVs) comprising 95% of new vehicle sales by 2040 could lead to significant reductions in tailpipe emissions ranging from 18% to 50%. Despite the additional electricity demand, the increase in power generation is minimal, and even pessimistic scenarios with EVs powered by coal and gas plants show net reductions in nitrogen oxides (NOx), CO2, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions. This analysis highlights the potential environmental benefits of EV adoption in India.