Aiming at promoting zero-pollution vehicles by cooperating with consumers and the industry, NITI Aayog with the U.S.’s RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute) and RMI India launched the “Shoonya” Campaign. The objective of the campaign is to speed up electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the urban supply sector and to educate consumers about the benefits of zero-emission delivery. Please read more about the ‘Shoonya’ campaign launched by NITI Aayog.
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NITI Aayog launches ‘Shoonya’ program
E-commerce firms, fleet aggregators, OEMs, and logistics firms have increased their efforts to electrify the last mile of delivery. They are all part of the industry. At the kick-off meeting hosted by Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, almost 30 enterprises including Mahindra Electric, Tata Motors, Zomato, Sun Mobility, Lightning Logistics, Big Basket, Bluedart, Hero Electric, and Swiggy were attending. Additional players from the industry are welcome to join the effort thereafter.
A corporate branding and certification scheme is being established in the context of this campaign to recognize and encourage efforts in the industry to move to EVs for final miles of delivery. The effect of the program will be shared on an online tracking platform with statistics such as electrical vehicle kilometers, carbon savings, polluting criteria reductions, and other advantages from clean deliveries.
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant
Highlighting the main aim of the campaign, NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant stated, “We will raise awareness through the Shoonya campaign about the health, environmental and economic benefits of electric vehicles. I call upon e-commerce firms, car manufacturers, and logistics operators to see the chance to minimize urban freight pollution. I am certain that our innovative private sector will rise to the challenge of making Shoonya a huge success.”
RMI Managing Director Clay Stranger
RMI Managing Director Clay Stranger commented on the immediate need for clean technologies: “Transition towards clean transportation is vital as India moves on to a sustainable and resilient future. Competitive economics and the technology available enable complete electrification of the Indian urban fleets at an expedited timetable that will generate tailwinds for other market segments to follow.”
Urban freight vehicles account for 10% of the CO2 emissions from freight transport in India, with a projected growth of 114% by 2030. EVs do not produce tailpipe emissions that can make an enormous contribution towards improving air quality. They generate 15 to 40 percent less CO2 than their internal combustion engine competitors, even when accounting for their manufacturing and reduced operating costs. The central governments and the state governments have implemented regulations that offer EVs with incentives to reduce capital costs by a large margin.
About NITI Aayog
The National Institution for Transforming India, popularly known as NITI Aayog, is the government’s leading policy think tank offering guidelines and policy advice. NITI Aayog should also offer the Centre and States with necessary technical assistance throughout the development of strategic and long-term policies and programs for the Government of India. A major evolutionary shift from the past, NITI Aayog functions as the government’s quintessence for bringing states together for the benefits of national interest, thereby fostering cooperative federalism.
About RMI
Founded in 1982, RMI changes global energy systems through market-driven solutions that align themselves with the 1.5°C future and guarantee for everybody a clean, prosperous, and carbon-free future. We are working in the most important geographies worldwide and involve companies, policy-makers, communities, and NGOs in identifying and scaling solutions in the energy sector that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado, as well as New York City, Oakland, California, Washington, D.C., and Beijing.
About RMI India
RMI India is an independent think and do tank working with a variety of parties concerned. The Institute draws inspiration from and collaborates with RMI, an NGO which is 40 years old. The aim of RMI India is to expedite India’s changeover to a clean, booming, and inclusive future of energy.
