A PROJECT REPORT ON GENERAL MANAGEMENT

“A Study on Consumer Perception Towards Adoption of Electrical

Vehicles in India”

SUBMITTED BY
ATHARVA SAWARGAONKAR
Roll no-M21114
MMS FINANCE
BATCH:2021-2023
[email protected]
+91-8600583465

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF

Prof. MACHHINDRA KATARE

SYDENHAM INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, RESEARCH AND

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION (SIMSREE)
 “A Study on Consumer Perception Towards Adoption of Electrical
Vehicles in India”

This is project report in the area General Management based on the in-depth study of the
project theme is submitted in June,2023 to Sydenham Institute of Management Studies,
Research and Entrepreneurship Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the
award of the two years Full Time Degree, Master in Management Studies (MMS),
affiliated to Mumbai University

Submitted by

Name: Atharva Ashok Sawargaonkar Roll No.: M21114

Through:
Prof. Machhindra Katare
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that project report titled “A Study on Consumer Perception Towards Adoption of
Electrical Vehicles in India” is submitted in May, 2023 to Sydenham Institute of Management
Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship Education by Atharva Ashok Sawargaonkar bearing
Roll No. M21114, batch 2021-23 in two years Full Time Degree, Master in Management Studies
(MMS), affiliated to Mumbai University.

This is a record of his work carried out under my guidance. I am satisfied with the quality, originality
and depth of the work of the above qualification.

Place: Mumbai

Date:

(Signature of Guide)

Machhindra Katare

(Asst. Professor)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I take this opportunity to convey my profound and sincere gratitude to Prof. Machhindra
Katare for his conceptual and moral support, guidance and substantial feedback
throughout the entire process. Further, for guiding me in this project & also aligning my
efforts with the objective of the project and helping me to understand the execution of
the project. He truly deserves much of the credit for improvements in this project. The
valuable suggestions were worth implementing and his unconditional welcome can be
taken as example for others to be followed.
I would also like to express our sincere gratitude to our director Dr. Shriniwas for his
constant support and guidance.

- Atharva Ashok
Sawargaonkar
INDEX

Sr. No. Content Page No.

1. Introduction 8-9
2. Literature Review 10-12
3. Methodology of Study 13-15
3.1 Research Problem
3.2 Objectives of the study
3.3 Exploration Research
3.3.1 Primary Data
3.3.2 Secondary Data
3.4 Data Collection
4. Data Interpretation and Discussion 16
4.1 Primary Data 16-23
4.2 Secondary Data 24-30
5. Findings 31
6. Conclusion 32
7. Recommendation 33
8. Bibliography 34
Chp.9. Annexure 35-36
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This project intends to map customer perceptions about e-vehicles. Every day, we come across
a variety of subjects and articles emphasizing the importance of electric vehicles and how
governments around the world are enacting policies to promote them in order to reduce reliance
on oil, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality. Metropolitan cities produce a
significant amount of pollution; thus, residents of these places must understand and do their
part to limit the consumption of life-threatening gases and pollutants.
This was done to gather people's opinions, feelings, and perceptions about vehicle awareness
and willingness to acquire them in order to maintain environmental sustainability.
Electric vehicles (EVs) have the potential to reduce air pollution, carbon emissions, and India's
reliance on foreign energy. It's no surprise, however, that policymakers and environmentally
conscientious citizens have been progressively looking at expanding EV usage in recent years.
The government's regulations and sales targets for electric vehicles have aided their
development and adoption in India.
According to the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), 3,400 electric cars
and 1.52 lakh electric two-wheelers were sold in India in the financial year (FY) 19-20. The
total sales grew by 20% compared to the previous financial year. However, current EV
penetration in India is low despite the government's measures.
Today’s EV owners are not deterred by the deficits of the current EV infrastructure and have
found ways around the limitations, but for mass adoption, it is critical to understand the views
of buyers who are not considering buying an EV today (2020). While electric vehicles (EVs)
remain a niche market application, research into consumer demand for EVs has been ongoing
for the past thirty years. Due to the occurrence of the 1970s oil shocks and growing awareness
of air quality issues in some of California's largest conurbations, research began in the early
1980s, generating interest in the idea of transitioning away from ICE vehicles (Sperling and
Eggert, 2014). Initially, researchers used econometric methods to measure consumer demand,
such as discrete choice modeling based on random utility theory (Train, 2009), which allowed
them to quantify the impact of EVs' innovative functional features on consumer preferences
(Mannering and Train, 1985).
Over the past decade, interest in EVs has resurfaced (Rezvani et al. 2015), mostly due to the
importance placed on this technology in transitioning the transport sector onto a low-carbon
trajectory (van Bree et al. 2010; Dijk et al. 2013; Geels, 2012; Stienhilber et al. 2013; Greene
et al. 2014). A significant quantity of forecasting studies have been conducted to assess
potential adoption pathways for EV demand (Karplus et al. 2010; Eggers and Eggers, 2011;
Musti and Kockleman, 2011; Anable et al. 2012; Shepherd et al. 2012). These forecasting
studies have tended to investigate the potential effect of different market developments, such
as improvements to battery technology and reductions in price premiums, alongside the
influence of government incentives. Whilst market forecasting at the system level allows for
the effect of different technical development scenarios and policy mixes to be considered, it
provides little insight regarding how EVs are being evaluated by individual consumers. In an
effort to shed light on this issue, research activity in consumer demand for EVs has progressed
through the application of psychometric models which draw on concepts originating in
psychology and sociology (Lane and Potter, 2007). This is an extension of the increasing
application of socio-psychological methods in order to evaluate the challenge of transitioning
towards a sustainable transport system (Gehlert et al., 2013), with the importance of attitudes
(G‰rling et al., 1998) alongside affective and symbolic motives (Steg et al., 2001; Steg, 2005)
in explaining travel behaviour now being well established (van Acker et al., 2010).
 INTRODUCTION

The environmental effect of petroleum-based transportation infrastructure, along with the fear
of rising oil prices, has encouraged growing interest in electric transportation infrastructure
over the last few decades.
The auto sector has been one of India's and the world's fastest-growing industries, and in recent
years, the industry has been forced to undergo significant technological changes as it aims to
develop more environmentally friendly vehicles, such as battery vehicles, as well as generating
conventional combustion vehicles that emit less pollution. Communication, automatic
transportation, the rise of online, yearly car updates, and the launch of BS6 engine vehicles are
all phases where we should expect remarkable increase.
The goal of this study is to see how important certain factors are in explaining consumer
propensity to purchase a new vehicle. We discover the customers' attitudes toward modern
technologies when exploring this research. We might also see if the changes that have occurred
in the globe are flexible to the customers' preferences.

To discourage the purchase and use of more polluting cars, governments began adopting fiscal
policies such as vehicle tax. Green taxes are levied when re-registering a car after 15 years of
use in order to encourage people to switch from polluting automobiles to fuel-efficient and less
polluting vehicles.
Fuel taxes may serve as an encouragement for the development of efficient, less polluting
vehicles and alternative fuels. Consumers may be encouraged to buy lighter, smaller, more
fuel-efficient cars or to not drive because of high fuel taxes or cultural shifts. (Transport policy)

The FAME India Scheme is an incentive programme aimed at encouraging the use of electric
and hybrid vehicles in India. Its goal is to encourage electric mobility by providing financial
incentives for increased electric vehicle manufacturing and the development of electric
transportation infrastructure. FAME was created in 2015 by the Ministry of Heavy Industries
and Public Enterprises to encourage the manufacturing and promotion of environmentally
friendly vehicles, such as electric and hybrid vehicles. The scheme is intended to set up
charging infrastructure. 2018 (Jose)

According to India's 'National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), 2020,' which was
launched in 2013, the country intends to undertake a big shift to electric vehicles, focusing on
concerns such as national energy security, vehicle pollution, and local manufacturing sector
growth. One of the reasons for such a significant transformation in the vehicle sector is
pollution linked with Indian automobile manufacturing.

Since most Indian cities have among the highest levels of pollution and noise in the world.
According to the World Health Organisation's 2019 report on the most polluted cities, 14 of
the top 20 cities in the world are in India. In India, people are particularly concerned about their
health and their surroundings. Some people are well aware of such automobiles on the market,
while others are not. And that's where the auto sector must attempt to fill the gap. People in
India are mostly unaware about electric vehicles, so the government and the automobile
industry are working together to educate them. Governments must take the necessary steps to
educate people about such technology. Make sure they understand the benefits of owning an
electric vehicle. Which of these reasons has the capacity to modify people's minds about
switching to an electric vehicle? This is only possible if the government provides necessary
facilities and infrastructure.
As a result, I believe that we should begin to shift toward the use of electric vehicles. Even
though electric vehicles have been in production in India for a few years, the market for electric
vehicles has not taken off as quickly as expected. So, is it the technology or the purchasing
habits of Indian customers that we're dealing with here? This study will attempt to clarify what
factors people discuss and consider before purchasing an electric vehicle at home.
 LITERATURE REVIEW

Electric Vehicles: A Synthesis of the Current Literature with a Focus on Economic and
Environmental Viability: Marcello Contestabile, Dr Gregory Offer, Dr Robin North, A
research concludes that the longer-term uptake of EVs will depend heavily on progress in
battery technology, to bring down costs and increase energy density, and on the provision of a
suitable recharging infrastructure. (Marcello Contestabile, 2012)

Potential Need for Electric Vehicles, Charging Station Infrastructure and its Challenges
for the Indian Market: by Praveen Kumar and Kalyan Dash, India should invest in small
scale reinforcements to manage the load issues locally rather than going for an enormous
change. Home charging should be encouraged. Proper planning of place, population, traffic
density and safety should be considered before implementing the massive scale charging
infrastructure. The integration of activities within the energy and transport fields is important.
Development goals through different innovative policies and programs, for instance, drivers of
electric cars are offered a financial consumer incentive, like tax credits, purchase subsidies,
discounted tolls, free parking, and access to restricted highway lanes will help the market to
grow. (Dash P. K., 2013)

Conventional, Hybrid, or Electric Vehicles: Which Technology for an Urban

Distribution Centre?: by Philippe Lebeau, Cedric De Cauwer, Joeri Van Mierlo, Cathy
Macharis, Freight transport has a major impact on urban movement. Researchers explored the
possible integration of electric vehicles in urban logistics operations. A fleet with different
technologies has the opportunity of reducing the costs of the last mile. Researchers presented
a fleet size and mixed vehicle routing problem with time windows for EVs. The main
contribution of the authors was considering the variability of the range of EVs. In the segments
of small vans, EVs are often the most competitive technology. In the segment of large vans,
diesel has seen the most interesting solution from a financial point of view as electric vehicles
would need to cover a longer distance to be cost-competitive. Hybrid vehicles are chosen in
the segment of trucks as its running costs and fixed costs are lower than the diesel truck.
(Philippe Lebeau, 2015)

Consumer preferences for electric vehicles: by Fanchao Liao, Eric Molin & Bert van Wee,
Widespread adoption of EVs may contribute to lessening of problems like environmental
pollution, global warming and oil dependency. However, this penetration of EV is
comparatively low in spite of governments implementing strong promotion policies. They
presented a comprehensive review of studies on consumer preferences for EV aiming to convey
policy-makers and give direction to further research. They compared the economic and
psychological approach towards consumer preference for Electric vehicles. The impact of
financial and technical attributes of EV on its utility is generally found to be significant,
including its purchase and operating cost, driving range, charging duration, vehicle
performance and brand diversity on the market. The density of charging stations also positively
affects the utility and promotion of EV. The impact of incentive policies, tax reduction is quite
effective. (Fanchao Liao, 2017)

International Council on Clean Transportation: Lingzhi Jin, Peter Slowik, the early
market growth for electric vehicles continues, but a number of barriers prevent their widespread
uptake. These barriers include the additional cost of the new technology, relative inconvenience
of technology considering range and charge times, and consumer understanding about the
availability and viability of the technology. This last point, typically referred to as “consumer
awareness,” is crucial. (Lingzhi Jin, 2017)

Study on Electric Vehicles in India Opportunities and Challenges: by Mohamed M, G

Tamil Arasan, and G Sivakumar, the replacement of ICE with electric engines will reduce
pollution to a great extent and be profitable to consumers. Many countries have implemented
this technology and are contributing to the improvement of the environment. The researcher
saw the opportunities and challenges faced in India over implementing EVs. Opportunities like
Government Initiatives, Batteries, Industries, and Environment have been considered. With
these challenges like cost of EVs, efficiency of EVs in India and demand for EVs were taken
into consideration. The implementation of EVs in India aims primarily to scale back
greenhouse emissions and cut oil expenses. The govt. should make the foremost out of the
opportunities available and find suitable ways to tackle the challenges. (Mohamed M, 2018)

The study "Commercial viability of electric vehicles in India" was conducted in India by Ankit
et al., (2018); Ahman (2006). This paper is aimed to examine the commercial viability of the
pilot project and identify the initial roadblocks and its rectifications in order to scale up on a
pan-India basis. In order to achieve this, the pilot project was studied in detail and interviews
and surveys were conducted among all the stakeholders in April-May 2018.The study also
uniquely identifies the charging pattern of the commercial electric vehicles at a particular
charging station.

The study "Comparative study of using different electric motors in the electric vehicles" by
Nasser Hashemnia, Behzad Asaei on 2008 18th International Conference on Electrical
Machines, 1-5, 2008. In this study, different electric motors are studied and compared to see
the benefits of each motor and the one that is more suitable to be used in the electric vehicle
(EV) applications. It is concluded that although the induction motors technology is more
mature than others, for the EV applications the brushless DC and permanent magnet motors
are more suitable than others. The use of these motors will result in less pollution, less fuel
consumption and higher power to volume ratio.

The study "Investigating the impact of demand side management on residential customers
"by Ning Zhang, Luis F Ochoa, Daniel S Kirschen in 2011 2nd IEEE PES International
Conference and Exhibition on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies, 1-6, 2011. This study
investigates the impact of a DSM scheme that shifts residential high-power appliances (loads)
to reduce the overall peak of households connected to the same LV feeder. Results are
encouraging; showing not only that the proposed DSM scheme has great potential for peak
reduction, but, more importantly, that the negative impact on the consumers is minimal. These
findings could be used to promote such schemes and increase public acceptance.

The study "Demand side management of electric car charging: Benefits for consumer and
grid" by P Finn, C Fitzpatrick, David Connolly in Energy 42 (1), 358-363, 2012. This study
examines how optimising the charging cycles of an electric car using DSM (Demand Side
Management) based on a number of criteria could be used to achieve financial savings,
increased demand on renewable energy, reduce demand on thermal generation plants, and
reduce peak load demand. The results demonstrate that significant gains can be achieved using
currently available market data which highlights the point that DSM can be implemented
without any further technological advancements.
 METHODOLOGY OF STUDY

The survey method was used to collect data for this study, which used a descriptive and
exploratory research methodology to investigate the buying approach toward electric
automobiles in relation to individual variables under study. The primary data and secondary
information used in this study are both primary and secondary. The original data was gathered
from 70 respondents in India via a structured questionnaire in order to learn more about their
opinions on electric vehicles. E-journals, books, and reports provide secondary data. The
survey data was evaluated using appropriate statistical tools and procedures based on
demographic criteria such as gender, age, education, and respondents' income levels.
Consumer attitude and perception towards electric vehicles”

1.1. RESEARCH PROBLEM

The survey method was used to collect data for this study, which used a descriptive and
exploratory research methodology to investigate the purchase approach toward electric
automobiles in relation to demographic variables of the respondents. The original data and
secondary information used in this study are both primary and secondary. The core data was
gathered from 60 respondents in India via a structured questionnaire in order to learn more
about their attitudes on electric automobiles. E-journals, books, and reports provide secondary
data. The survey data was evaluated using appropriate statistical tools and procedures based on
demographic criteria such as gender, age, education, and respondents' income levels.

1.2. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

To find out if buyers are aware of the electric automobiles available on the market.

● To determine how much, they are willing to spend for an electric vehicle.
● To determine what factors, influence their decision to purchase or not purchase electric
vehicles.
● Recognize the sources of their information.
● Those who would choose to purchase an electric vehicle.

1.3. EXPLORATORY RESEARCH

the method I used for exploratory research was

Primary Data
Secondary data
 1.3.1. PRIMARY DATA

New information has been acquired to aid in the solution of the challenge at hand. In
comparison to secondary data, which is data that has already been obtained. A questionnaire,
for example, can collect data. Original information received from people and includes
information gathered via surveys, focus groups, independent 20 observations, and test findings.
Qualitative or quantitative data that is newly collected in the course of research. Data obtained
by the researcher during the research process. Secondary data, on the other hand, refers to
information gathered by someone other than the researcher and obtained directly from first-
hand sources through surveys, observation, or experimentation. The respondents' responses to
a questionnaire are used to obtain primary data.

1.3.2. SECONDARY DATA

Information that already exists, but was gathered for a different purpose. Census reports, trade
journals, and subscription services are some of the places where you might find information.
Data from another research project that has previously been collected and published (other than
the one at hand). Secondary data is divided into two categories: internal and external.
Information gathered internally or outside for reasons unrelated to the current investigation.
Data that has been collected for a different reason than the current study. Information that has
previously been published is being researched. It can be internal data, such as existing sales-
tracking statistics, or it can be research undertaken by someone else, such as a market research
firm or the US government, for purposes other than the current research effort. Data from also
before the sets of information, such as medical records, vital statistics, previous research
studies, and archival data, that has been published and is already available. Books and the
internet are employed as secondary data sources. My idea is to perform extensive secondary
research in order to fully comprehend the industry's influence and implications, as well as to
analyse and critique industry norms and reports, from which specific topics will be chosen,
which I believe remain unresolved.

1.4. DATA COLLECTION

The information was gathered through the use of questionnaires. The questionnaire method has
become the most popular and cost-effective form of data collection. The reliance on verbal
responses to questions, whether written or oral, is a common feature of all questionnaire
methods. It was critical to me that the questionnaire was simple to read and understand for
persons from various walks of life in the sample. As a researcher, it was also crucial to respect
the samples' time and energy, therefore the questionnaire was created to take no more than 4-5
minutes to complete. These questionnaires were handed out by hand. 22 People were asked to
fill out questionnaires in order to gather first-hand information. The primary data was gathered
by interacting with people first hand. Respondents were reached at retail stores, markets, and
locations near consumer durable product showrooms, among other places. The information was
gathered via communicating with 100 respondents who filled out surveys and provided me
with the information I needed. The required information was acquired through directly
interacting with the respondents, who included housewives, students, businessmen, and
professionals.
 DATA INTERPRETATION AND DISCUSSION

1.5. PRIMARY DATA

TABLE Source: Primary data

Gender Total no of respondents Percentage
M 35 49.3%
F 36 50.7%
Total 71

TABLE Source: Primary data

AGE Total no of respondents Percentage

<25 58 81.7%
26-30 9 12.7%
31-40 2 2.8%
41-60 2 2.8%
60 & above 0
Total 71

TABLE Source: Primary data

Monthly income Respondents Percentage

Less than 20000 29 40.8%
20000-30000 21 12.7%
30000-40000 9 12.7%
40000-50000 9 12.7%
50000-60000 3 4.2%
More than 60000 0
Total 71

The information gathered here is based on primary data acquired using a well-designed
questionnaire. The data was collected from 70 respondents, and the questionnaire was primarily
focused on what people understand about electric vehicles and what they are looking for in
electric vehicles, as well as what are the things that are lacking in electric vehicles, as a result
of which the electric vehicle market in India is still low, and what are there are several reasons
why consumers are hesitant to choose electric automobiles over regular gasoline-powered
vehicles. First, we'll look at the respondent's demographic profile. The complete list of
responders, as well as their demographic profile, is shown in Table 1.1. Table 1.2 provides the
total number of male and female respondents in percentages, with males accounting for 49.3%
and females accounting for 50.7 percent. Table1.3 illustrates the percentage of responders in
various age groups, with the largest percentage being observed among those aged 25 and under.
This research focuses on persons between the ages of 18 and 40 since they are more likely to
be aware of this technology and comprehend what is best for the environment. People in this
age bracket are extremely cautious.

WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT HAVING AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRAPH 1

 Source: Primary Data

The graph above illustrates the specifics of what people think about owning an electric vehicle.
The scale used in the question was Likert's. We can see from the graph that people are very
concerned about the environment, and the majority of them prefer to acquire an electric vehicle
because they feel it will protect them from global warming and that electric vehicles will
eventually replace traditional cars to meet customer needs. The third reason found in this data
is that they believe it will save the owner a lot of money, which I agree with because there are
fewer moving parts, but most of the parts are electronic circuits, which can be costly to replace
if a fault occurs. As a result, there are a few who disagree with this. The next largest point of
agreement among respondents is that the vehicle might be rather costly. As a result, some of
them questioned whether it may save money for the owner, despite the fact that the explanation
is the same for both. The conclusion was on the infrastructure that has been built, and we can
see that there is a somewhat balanced response to this subject. Some people believe that the
necessary infrastructure has been built, while others say that there is still much more to be done.
I believe this is one of several reasons why buyers are unsure whether or not to purchase electric
automobiles. Infrastructure plays a critical role in growing the electric vehicle market.
FACTORS THAT ENCOURAGED CUSTOMERS TO BUY ELECTRIC VEHICLES
GRAPH 2

Source: Primary Data

The graph above is the most important portion of this research report. It demonstrates what
elements motivate people to purchase an electric vehicle. And it's been quite an interesting
analysis that when it comes to having an electric vehicle, there isn't much brand loyalty
associated with this, as we can see from the 23.9 percent brand reputation. When it comes to
buying an electric vehicle, people don't give a damn about the brand. People understand that
driving an electric vehicle means they are contributing to environmental protection.
It can bring about a shift in the surroundings, according to 69 percent of people, and it can even
provide low noise levels, according to 53.5 percent. When asked what the difference between
an electric vehicle and a regular combustion engine vehicle is, 9.9% of those who chose to test
drive said that it is a varying factor that will soon not be an encouraging factor because they
believe that electric vehicles will be the future of the automobile industry. When asked about
the price, they said that it is a varying factor that will soon not be an encouraging factor because
they believe that electric vehicles will be the future of the automobile industry. New trends
have 42.3 percent, and the majority of those who must choose this option are under the age of
30, and they believe that electric vehicles will be the new trend in the automobile market.
A

. People's Awareness of Electric Vehicles in the Market Graph 3

Source: Primary Data

This was a broad question aimed to evaluate public awareness about electric automobiles on
the market. Surprisingly, there have been a number of interesting discoveries as a result of
digging through this data. The Cadillac ELR and Chevrolet Volt series are well-known in the
United States, although they are less well-known in India. What is the reason for this? Are
firms in India not attempting to raise awareness, or is it simply the public's attitude toward their
traditional automobiles, or is it the government's fault that it is not attempting to push this
more? This is one point that sticks out the most in the raw document and even the secondary
data. People in India are much more aware of the global brand that has successfully run electric
vehicles in other nations, but they are less aware of this in India. People are completely unaware
that their parent company, Tata, has launched two electric vehicles, the Tata Tigor EV and the
Tata Altron, according to the data in this graph. But most of them are aware of the Mahindra
e2o Plus, but still fewer people have deep knowledge about it even though it's almost 4 years
now since the release of the Mahindra e2o Plus. The only conclusion that can be found from
here is that is the Indian Automobile Industry Not Marketing their Electric vehicles
Effectively?
B. Factors that Discourage them in Buying Electric Vehicles

Source: Primary Data

Now the 2nd most important part of this research paper is what are the factors that discourage
people from buying electric vehicles. And the above chart exactly shows us what those are.
People who are used to driving traditional combustion engine vehicles and when they are asked
will buy an electric vehicle over the current combustion engine vehicles. There are these 2
common questions that come into the mind of the people: what is the maximum range it can
run and how long does it take for full charging of the battery. And from the above chart, we
can see exactly that 50.7% respondents choose long charging time, 67.6% choose lack of
charging station, 31.1% choose lack of trust in technology, 7% choose Unwillingness to change
lifestyle and 22.5%choose Lack of consumer choice. This is where we see 2 major consumer
behaviours that's there: Trust and Belief. People are still doubtful about the electric vehicles
just because of this and they feel they are very much comfortable with their traditional vehicles
as electric vehicles haven't brought in that trust and belief to the customer that they can satisfy
the required needs of the customer and have the right infrastructure to do so.
C. Source of Information About Electric Vehicles

Source: Primary Data

The data above shows us where customers get their information and who they go to for
guidance before buying an electric vehicle. People who have access to the internet find more
information, whereas those who do not have access to the internet prefer television and
newspapers, as shown in the graph. People obtain more information from their family and
friends after using Internet sources. However, as seen in the pie chart, 25.4 percent of
consumers would rather follow everyone's advice when purchasing an electric vehicle. These
are the methods used by those who want to learn more about electric vehicles or who are
considering purchasing one. It's no surprise that people acquire their information from the
internet because we live in the age of the internet. But, in my opinion, I would have relied on
publications far more frequently, as many automotive magazines, such as Top Gear, Autocars,
Auto week, and others, give us in-depth knowledge about all present and upcoming vehicles.

Limitations of the study ·

Some unavoidable issues restrict the smooth flow of all research projects. The issues develop
as a result of financial, time, and study scope limits. A difficulty developed in the current
project as well.
The following are some of the difficulties encountered during the research:
A great reluctance on the part of diverse car owners to engage in and aid the research.
As a result of the respondents' boredom and waning concentration while filling out the long
questionnaire, it was difficult to prevent incomplete questionnaires.
Sampling error: The study used a sample size of 70 customers, which is insufficient to establish
the consumers' brand perceptions when purchasing automobiles.
Because this is not a census survey, there is always the risk of inaccuracy when extrapolating
the results of a sample study to the entire population, especially in qualitative studies. As a
result, adopting a quantitative measure to map qualitative elements is always a risk.
 1.6. SECONDARY DATA

Charging

Charging through AC

Bharat EV Charging Standard AC001 is regulated under IS:17017. It has a 15-amp, 230-volt,
3.3-kilowatt power supply with an IEC 60309 connection. Electric vehicles may be charged
using a standard 220V – 15 A household outlet with a power output of 2.5 kW. For at-home
EV charging, no policy or standard has been established. To guarantee safety, Bharat EV
standards recommend installing a Residual Current Circuit Breaker and using an IEC 60309
Industrial connector, while a three-pin 15-amp socket might also be utilised. [30] Type 2
connectors are required for higher-power AC charging (up to 22 kW). [31] Type 2 connectors
provide the advantage of being able to charge with three phase AC power.

Charging with direct current

DC 001 is the public DC Charging Standard. For EV-EVSE communication over CAN mode,
it employs a proprietary GB/T. It has a GB/T 20234 connector and draws 200 A at 15 kW. 100
VDC is the maximum DC O/P voltage. There are just a few automobiles on the market that
meet these requirements, such as the Mahindra e-Verito, Mahindra e20, and Tata Motors e-
Tigor. CCS-2 (Combined Charging System) and CHAdeMO protocols for high power fast
charging are recommended by BIS in IS:17017-1, which was issued in August 2018. CCS has
an advantage over CHAdeMO and GB/T in that it communicates between EVs using Power
Line Carrier Communications (PLCC), whereas CHAdeMO and GB/T use CAN. When
compared to May, PLC enables for safe communication via encrypted communications, and
the link can support a higher data rate.

Equipment for supplying electric vehicles (EVSE)

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) established the IS:17017 standard, which contains
general standards and safety norms for EVSEs.

System of Central Management (CMS)

Over the internet, the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) 1.5 or higher is to be utilised.
The pros of electric vehicles

In terms of energy efficiency, electric vehicles are 3-5 times more efficient than internal
combustion vehicles. Even if electric vehicles use electricity generated from fossil fuels, their
overall efficiency is higher and pollution is lower because huge thermal power plants are
significantly more efficient than internal combustion engines, and power plant emissions are
easier to manage than vehicle emissions.
Regenerative braking helps electric vehicles conserve energy. Around 30% to 70% of the
energy consumed for propulsion can be recovered, with larger percentages appropriate to city
driving.

According to air quality indices for India, the air in many Indian cities is no longer healthy.
One of the factors has been pollution caused by automobiles.

Concerns about global warming need a change to car alternatives that emit less or no
greenhouse gases. Electric vehicles that run on electricity generated from non-polluting sources
of energy such as hydro, solar, wind, tidal, and nuclear produce nearly no emissions.

The necessity to transition away from a fossil-fuel-based economy. In 2014-15, India imported
112 billion dollars’ worth of crude oil (approximately 7,00,000 crore rupees). In instance, the
Mahatma Gandhi National

Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme received 48,000 crore rupees in the 2017-18 budget.
India has the potential to become a global provider of inexpensive and scalable clean
transportation technologies and processes.

Noise pollution is a problem for residents in various Indian cities. Some Indian cities have the
highest levels of noise pollution in the world. Electric vehicles are substantially quieter, which
could contribute to a reduction in city noise pollution.
Automobiles have improved in terms of energy efficiency and emission reduction. However,
the increase in the total number of vehicles on the road, as well as the resulting total pollution
and total energy consumption, wiped out any advances gained by automobiles in terms of
energy efficiency and emission reduction. Measures to improve energy efficiency and reduce
emissions have lagged behind the surge in car sales. In India, the total number of automobiles
registered was 5.4 million, 11 million, 45 million, 33 million, 45 million, 40 million, 46 million,
and 210 million in the years 1981, 1986, 1996, 2000 and 2015. This indicates 39 times
percentage growth in the total number of vehicles between 1981 and 2015. The total number
of vehicles sold in India increased between 1,54,81,381 in 2010-11 and 2,04,69,385 in 2015-
16 indicating a 30+ percentage growth in this five-year period.

Through smart charging, electric vehicles can help to balance the balance-supply variations in
the electricity grid, and provide a buffer against electricity supply failures.
Electric vehicles have much fewer moving parts as compared to vehicles with IC engines. Thus,
being simpler, they are cheaper and easier to maintain.
Electric motors can deliver high torque at low speeds. As a result, electric vehicles deliver
much better performance while starting off and on slopes than IC engine-powered vehicles.

Challenges faced
Lack of charging infrastructure

the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in India has not been fully developed yet. For
more details, see the section 'Charging Infrastructure' below.

Cost

The cost of EVs is very high mainly due to the cost of Li-ion cells. The battery packs are
imported and cost a lot, about $275/KWh in India. This combined with the GST of 18% and
the lack of lithium in India, further increased the cost of batteries. In case of four wheelers,
Most EVs in India provide a range of 200 to 250 km and cost between Rs 14-20 lakhs which
does not give a cost advantage compared to higher range cars in the same price range.

Lack of renewable energy and grid infrastructure

In India electricity is mainly produced by burning coal, which produces a great amount of
greenhouse emissions. With the introduction of EVs and charging infrastructure, the electricity
demand will go up a lot and the whole point of introducing EVs to reduce GHG emissions
would be ineffective, if all this electricity was produced by burning coal. Moreover, India’s
Distribution companies hold debts and are unable to adequately satisfy the energy requirement
of the whole country. If EVs were to enter this equation, the sudden increase in electricity
requirement would put extra load on these companies. Moreover, there are a lot of factors that
would go into deciding pricing of the electricity as well the demand on the grid.
Charging infrastructure
The Government of India has declared public charging stations and EV charging businesses as
a de-licensed activity. The government has laid down that there should be at least one charging
station in a grid of 3 km x 3 km in cities and one station every 25 km on both sides of highways.
This coverage is to be achieved in cities with a population of more than 4 million and all
existing expressways and important highways connected to these mega cities by 2022. The
second phase (3 to 5 years) will cover big cities like state capitals and UT headquarters. There
have been initiatives to set up community charging stations, as in the case of Plugin India
facilitated charging stations. News reports have indicated plans to provide solar-powered
charging points at the existing fuel stations of the country.
There are companies like Tata Power, Fortum and others which are engaged in the business of
electric vehicle charging. They have already installed all varieties of chargers - rapid DC
chargers and level 2 AC chargers for all kinds of applications - public access, workplace
charging, fleet charging, residential communities, malls, highways etc and have large plans to
scale up.
Charging infrastructure, mainly setting up of level 2 charging at public level shall be the
toughest challenge in terms of service integration for India. For normal charging, the charging
time poses a serious problem as it ranges from 6 to 8 hours whereas for fast DC charging; cost
& high renewable energy are the biggest factors which could pose a problem. It is also assumed
that 10% of the charging infrastructure required in India shall be composed of fast charging
stations and the rest 90% shall come from level 2 public charging setups. On 22 May 2018
Ather Energy launched its charging infrastructure service in Bangalore called Ather Grid, with
each charging station called 'Point'. The service is open to all electric vehicles but has been
deployed where Ather plans to launch its own electric scooter.

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
● Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers
● Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV)
● Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

Electric vehicles in India

Fully electric cars
In 2017 ISRO tested a solar-powered hybrid car - a modified Maruti Omni with a solar panel
platform installed on top of the car. The installation of this solar platform on the car has been
rated "awful" for its design. The Hyundai Kona electric has the highest range of 452(as per
ARAI) km in a single charge among the electric cars available in India.
● Hyundai Kona Electric
● Mahindra e-Verito
● Mahindra e2o
● REVA by Reva Electric Car Company
● Tata X-press T (Only for Commercial purposes)
● Tata Tigor ev
● Tata Nexon EV 2020
● Mercedes Benz EQC
● Extinction MK1 by Pravaig Dynamics (to be launched)
● Morris Garages ZS EV

Motor cycles

● Revolt Motors (RV400 & RV300)

● Tork Motors (KRATOS & KRATOS R)
● Oben Rorr (to be launched)
● Kabira Mobility (KM3000 & KM4000)
● SVM Prana
● Earth Energy (to be launched)
● Ultraviolette Automotive (to be launched)
● Zitto Motors (to be launched)
● Emflux Motors (to be launched

Scooters
 ● Ather Energy
● Bajaj Chetak (Currently available in Pune and Bangalore)
● Simple Energy (Mark 2 to be launched)
● Hero Electric Photon 48V
● Okinawa Praise
● Yakuza Rubie*
● Lactrix Motors - Launched its scooter in Oct 2020
● Evolet Pony
● Omjay Eeve
● Battre lo ev
● Battre lo ev gpsie (India's first e scooter with gps)
● Pure EV Epluto 7G (Available all over India)
● Ampere by Greaves (Available all over India)
● Ola Electric (Just launched)
● TVS iQube (Currently available in Bangalore)
● AMO Mobility (Available all over India)

Global Warming: Ozone Layer

The process of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere, also known as global warming,
diminishes the Earth’s ozone layer, which is what occurs at this time. A factor that makes
electric vehicles clean is their ability to use half the number of parts a gasoline powered vehicle
does, including gasoline and oil.

The Electric Vehicle's Future

Lithium-ion phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries, which are becoming increasingly common in other
nations, will almost certainly be used in future electric vehicles. Electric bikes and scooters
employ LiFePO4 batteries, which are rechargeable and powerful. This technology will most
likely be adopted by electric cars in the future.
The expanding usage of supercapacitors and ultracapacitors for storing and delivering electrical
charge is another technology that is probable for future electric cars. Many of these batteries
are presently being utilised in hybrid car prototypes, therefore they are also expected to be
employed in future electric car markets.
If the developers of future electric cars can create vehicles with a range of 300 miles per charge,
a charging time of five to ten minutes, and safety in operating the vehicles, the market is wide
open for them. Researchers are working on improved battery technologies to increase driving
range and decrease recharging time, weight, and cost. These factors will ultimately determine
the future of EVs

Purchase Decision Process:

It is necessary to gain a knowledge of the purchasing process in order to estimate the impact of
environmental consciousness in the car purchase decision. The choice to buy a product is a
multi-staged process for the consumer. According to Kotler (2006), the consumer will go
through five stages. Vehicle buying behaviour is quite complex, since it entails a significant
amount of social and/or psychological engagement. As a result, the consumer will proceed
through each stage of the purchasing decision-making process as shown in Figure 1.
Identifying the Issue and Evaluating the Alternatives Searching for Information Making a
Purchase Making a Purchase Post-Purchase Behaviour

Problem Recognition:
a. The consumer buying process begins when the customer detects a problem or need,
according to this information processing paradigm. A problem is identified when there is a
difference between the current state and the desired state. When we come across a problem, we
normally try to solve it. To put it another way, we acknowledge the importance of resolving
the issue. But how do you do it?
b) Information Seeking: When a customer encounters a difficulty, he or she is inclined to seek
additional information. The consumer learns more about some of the market's competitors'
brands, as well as their features and qualities, via acquiring information.
c) Alternative Evaluation and Selection: How does the customer absorb competitive brand
information and assess the brands' worth? Unfortunately, in all buying scenarios, no single,
straightforward evaluation procedure is used by all customers or even by one consumer. The
evaluation process, on the other hand, is commonly viewed as intellectually motivated and
reasonable. A consumer, in this view, is attempting to solve the problem and, as a result,
satisfying his or her demand. In other words, he or she will look for benefits from the product
that will help them solve problems. The user then searches for products that have a certain set
of characteristics that offer the desired results. As a result, the consumer views each product as
a collection of traits with varying degrees of ability to give problem-solving advantages to meet
his or her needs. It's crucial to distinguish between needs, rewards, and qualities. A hierarchical
structure is one effective technique to organise the relationships between the three. d) Execution
of the Decision: However, in order to truly implement the purchasing decision, a buyer must
choose specific things (brands) as well as specific outlets (where to buy) to solve the
difficulties. There are three possible outcomes from these choices.be made: 1) simultaneously;
2) item first, outlet second; or 3) outlet first, item second. In many situations, consumers engage
in a simultaneous selection process of stores and brands. Once the brand and outlet have been
decided, the consumer moves on to the transaction (“buying”). e) Post-purchase Evaluation:
Post-purchase evaluation processes are directly influenced by the type of preceding decision-
making process. Directly relevant here is the level of purchase involvement of the consumer.
Purchase involvement is often referred to as “the level of concern for or interest in the
purchase” situation, and it determines how extensively the consumer searches information in
making a purchase decision. Although purchase involvement is viewed as a continuum (from
low to high), it is useful to consider two extreme cases here. Suppose one buys a certain brand
of product as a matter of habit (habitual purchase). For him/her, buying a is a very low purchase
involvement situation, and he/she is not likely to search and evaluate product information
extensively. In such a case, the consumer would simply purchase, consume and/or dispose of
the product with very limited post-purchase evaluation and generally maintain a high level of
repeat purchase motivation.
 FINDINGS

A. Electric vehicle awareness, availability of various car types, and government incentives for
electric vehicles are all judged to be average. People believe that being environmentally
friendly is the biggest motivating factor for purchasing electric vehicles. It signifies that the
majority of people believe and understand that using electric vehicles emits less carbon and is
environmentally friendly. The high purchase price, shortage of charging stations, restricted
driving range, and extended recharging time are all problems that deter people from purchasing
electric vehicles.
B. The majority of respondents believe that electric vehicles are not suitable for lengthy
journeys due to their long charging times, limited driving range, and lack of charging
infrastructure.
C. Even though people are well aware of the negative environmental effects of traditional
combustion engine vehicles, they are still hesitant to switch to an electric vehicle because they
lack in-depth knowledge and the necessary infrastructure.
 CONCLUSION

Adoption of electric vehicles as a positive action against climate change is a pressing need of
the hour. It is critical to use electric vehicles in order to keep the environment in good shape.
To raise public awareness about environmental issues, the government and the automobile
industry should undertake a campaign informing people about the advantages of adopting
electric vehicles. It is also necessary to develop appropriate infrastructure for rapid charging
stations in India to facilitate the use and maintenance of electric vehicles.
 RECOMMENDATION

A. Electric vehicle manufacturers should take awareness of environmental safety as their

advantage to promote electric vehicles.
B. Lack of charging infrastructure is one of the major factors for creating negative perception
of Electric Vehicles among consumers and manufacturers. So the government's major focus
should be on the development of charging infrastructure.
C. Fast charging batteries must be brought in as people don’t like waiting for a long period of
time which is a major reason why they don’t prefer Electric vehicles.
D. Should design vehicles which are having similar power and performance levels to that of
combustion engine vehicles
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