India Army to now procure electric vehicles

In order to meet its operational goals and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and carbon emissions, the Indian Army has implemented an ambitious strategy to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) into its fleet.

The Army will gradually equip a few units in peace stations with EVs, taking into account their useability and requirement in a variety of terrains. According to a source, chosen units and formations will transition about 25% of their light vehicles, 38% of their buses, and 48% of their motorbikes to electric vehicles with suitable charging infrastructure.

To create a clear, time-bound road map, “several elements peculiar to Indian Army’s employability, remote areas of employment, and military responsibilities were examined.”

The essential support infrastructure, which includes EV charging stations, will be installed in order to sustain a viable EV ecosystem in the Army units.”There will be at least one fast charger and two to three slow chargers at these EV charging stations. In accordance with the projected number of EVs per station, electric circuit cables and transformers with sufficient load bearing capacity will be installed “added the official.

The Army is also preparing to install solar-powered charging stations, which are also being planned in stages.According to the official, the EV drive has already begun in New Delhi and will soon be expanded to Lucknow, Pune, and Kolkata.

“This is a good illustration of the strategy that must be taken by the entire society to fight climate change. Renewable energy-powered electric vehicle fleets have the potential to slow the increase in emissions from the transportation sector, according to Ulka Kelkar, director of the climate programme at the World Resources Institute (WRI) India.

Radars, radios, guns, and other power-hungry mission modules are becoming more common on trucks. The Army prefers battery power versus a moving motor because it wants to be able to operate quietly and reduce its heat footprint. Additionally, troops are more manoeuvrable during operations the fewer frequently they need to refuel.