In the quest for sustainable mobility, building cooperative alliances among diverse stakeholders while prioritising citizens” interests in all decision-making processes has emerged as an important strategy. This collaborative approach is driven by the realisation that the traditional reliance on internal combustion engines (ICE), despite its historical significance, has significantly contributed to environmental degradation and climate change. In response, India has committed to achieving “net zero” emissions by 2070, with the transport sector representing a substantial share of greenhouse gas emissions.

The dawn of a new era beckons, as we stand on the precipice of revolutionising the way people connect with places. While the familiar 2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, cars, buses, and trucks will remain integral to our lives, the core technologies that propel them and the energy sources that power them are set for transformation. Further, the adoption of ride-sharing and public transportation is set to surge, promising a reduction in overall pollutants.

NITI Aayog envisions a future where India could have over 100 million electric vehicles (EVs) on its roads by 2030, necessitating the establishment of approximately three million public charging stations. McKinsey, in its research, has delineated nine powertrain options grouped into four categories as viable alternatives to traditional fossil fuel-powered ICEs, including gas-based, biofuel-based, hybrid EVs, and zero-emission vehicles.

These ambitious goals and the transformation of the mobility landscape involve over ten key stakeholders who play critical roles in shaping the future of mobility. Let”s explore who these stakeholders are and why their collaboration is vital to achieving the set targets:

Citizens: At the heart of the transformation, citizens, especially women and children, must be the focal point in the design of future cities and towns. Their choices and demands for safe, clean, and efficient multi-modal transportation will drive the adoption of various transportation modes, be it individual vehicles, ride-sharing, or public transport.

Government and Regulatory Agencies: Governments at the central and state levels have a crucial role in shaping policy, incentivising manufacturers to embrace alternative powertrains, and regulating emissions to achieve higher fuel efficiency and lower pollution levels.

Urban Planners: Urban mobility is fundamental to the quality of life in cities. The challenge lies in connecting more people to more places while minimising personal motorised vehicles and promoting micro-mobility and public transport with low or zero emissions.

Automotive Industry (OEMs and Component Manufacturers): The automotive industry has faced significant disruptions, primarily due to stricter emissions and safety regulations and intensified competition. Its adaptability and resilience are key to building a world-class automotive ecosystem.

Power Producers: To allay concerns about EVs” power consumption and range anxiety, power producers must enhance capacity and maintain consistent power quality and distribution.

Software Developers: Software will play an increasingly critical role in the future of vehicles, controlling and managing systems and functions, potentially constituting a substantial portion of a vehicle”s cost.

Machine Tool Manufacturers: These manufacturers, closely tied to the automotive industry, will need to adapt to changing revenue streams, such as additive manufacturing, as the auto value chain evolves.

Sugar Manufacturers: Sugar producers are instrumental in enabling the availability of adequate ethanol as an alternate clean fuel to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry: Natural gas (CNG, LNG) is identified to reduce pollution. Building a well-calibrated network for its distribution is essential.

Other Stakeholders: Entities such as the Hydrogen Association, Charging Infrastructure, Battery Manufacturers, and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) providers are all integral components of a successful future mobility ecosystem.

A collaborative effort, driven by a citizen-centric approach, involving governments, planners, the automotive industry, software developers, power producers, sugar manufacturers, petroleum and natural gas producers, and other key stakeholders, is essential in addressing the challenges and building a smart, inclusive, low-carbon, world-class ecosystem for sustainable future mobility. This unified vision can help us realise a greener and more efficient future in the realm of mobility.