New Delhi: As India stands at the cusp of a transformative era in transportation, the convergence of electric vehicle (EV) adoption and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) within the commercial and logistics sector is poised to redefine the future of mobility. We are making a forward-looking and data-oriented case for the potential developments in EV adoption and its implications on the evolution of ITS in the Indian context.I’m borrowing from Naval Ravikant, who opined that the end state of all vehicles is autonomous behaviour. If that is true for commercial vehicles, Singapore has already built a significant advantage. KPMG recently ranked Singapore top of the global cities ready for autonomous vehicles. Its data-rich transportation system, which provides real-time updates to all its citizens, is one of the least congested in the world. EVs are a rich data source and lend themselves to immense optimization in India’s transportation sector.
ITS as catalyst for EVs
The major transition to EVs in the Indian logistics sector was driven by e-commerce, including Amazon, Flipkart, and Ecom Express, which have embarked on ambitious fleet electrification initiatives. Anticipated government incentives and policy support, coupled with advancements in EV technology, are expected to accelerate these initiatives. India recently crossed the EV critical mass point, i.e., 5% of all vehicles sold in India are now electric. The global electric vehicle market is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 26.8% in the coming years, from 4,093,000 units in 2021 to 34,756,000 units by 2030. It is fair to say that India will be a leading market in the race towards maximum electrification, especially for logistics fleets.
In India, industry is proactively pursuing sustainability. Commercial transport vehicles contribute more than 75% of all vehicular carbon emissions, an area with significant scope for improvement. Fleet efficiency mapping is critical for all logistics and mobility businesses. EVs have a natural ecosystem play to enable this.
Charging infrastructure landscape
The charging infrastructure is also an intelligent network by default, so we can optimize using vehicle density and charging network data integrated into the ITS. The future envisions a significant expansion of the electric charging infrastructure in India. By 2024, cities nationwide are expected to witness a proliferation of charging stations supported by governmental initiatives, private investments, and Smart-Grid integration. The envisioned growth aims to address the increasing demand for charging infrastructure, facilitating the seamless integration of electric logistics vehicles into the mainstream transportation grid. It would not be a stretch to imagine industry players will self-regulate and collaborate on charging standards to bring in the required seamlessness (akin to C-type charging ports on most mobiles now).
ITS for efficient fleet management
Integrating advanced ITS will revolutionize fleet management in the Indian logistics sector. There is acceleration towards introducing cutting-edge technologies, including real-time data analytics, artificial intelligence, and IoT connectivity, to optimize delivery routes, monitor vehicle health, and manage charging schedules with unprecedented efficiency. Many players are doing this currently, but either in parts or without the seamlessness the industry desires. This integration will address the unique challenges of India’s diverse and dynamic logistics landscape. India has an added incentive here as we rank low on highway safety and volume of accidents. Intelligent systems help boost vehicle and driver safety.
New York City ranks top in the IESE Cities in Motion Ranking because of its connected vehicle pilot program, which analyzes data from connected fleets to understand refinements and optimizations en masse. I see it possible in India when large logistics operators switch to EV fleets in the next two years. Advanced driver training programs can be designed for safety, energy efficiency and productivity.
Proactive maintenance
ITS revolves around the data economy. Future telematics applications and ITS will be crucial in predictive maintenance for electric fleets in India. Predicted for the years beyond 2024, continuous data collection and advanced analytics will enable proactive maintenance strategies, reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns, lowering maintenance costs, and ensuring the reliability of electric logistics operations in the Indian market. Berlin earmarked 9 billion Euros in 2015 for its BeMobility project to increase EV fleets with vehicle detection systems to give drivers real-time information on the go. Imagine if we could avoid 10-15% of unexpected on-road delays and what that would mean for the national GDP.
Smart traffic management solutions
The synergy between EV adoption and ITS is expected to manifest in advanced smart traffic management solutions tailored to India’s traffic conditions. In the next five years, real-time traffic control systems connected to the evolving ITS infrastructure will optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion in major cities. This proactive approach aims to enhance the speed and reliability of electric logistics operations, addressing India’s unique urban challenges.
Futuristic data-driven decision making
Envisaging the future, companies will harness the growing volume of data generated by EVs and ITS for sophisticated decision-making processes. We envision that advanced analytics and artificial intelligence will enable companies to optimize routes, assess environmental impacts, and make informed decisions regarding fleet expansion.
It would benefit us to look at global pilots underway in similar domains. For example, the ENSEMBLE project, conducted by ERTICO – ITS, a European public–private partnership. They tested large-scale truck platooning and guided multiple trucks using only short distances. In the future, driverless travel might be possible with technology that is self-healing and intelligent enough to take corrective measures.
Conclusion
As we look to the next decade, the trajectory of electric vehicle adoption in the Indian commercial logistics sector and its synergy with Intelligent Transportation Systems promise a paradigm shift in the nation’s mobility landscape. This will only improve with newer products in the 4W and 6W segments. Ambitious fleet electrification initiatives, an expanding charging infrastructure, regulatory frameworks to ensure interoperability and seamless communication protocols, and the integration of advanced ITS technologies collectively signal a future where safe, smart and sustainable transportation solutions are poised to reshape the logistics sector in India.
(Disclaimer: Maxson Lewis is the founder and CEO at Magenta Mobility. Views are personal.)
