eGaadi Desk · 9/30/2026 · IN
What the TERI Study Reveals
A new lifecycle assessment by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) highlights that electric vehicles in India face notable upstream emissions due to the country's coal-dominated electricity grid. When measuring full well-to-wheel environmental impact, compressed natural gas (CNG) models currently demonstrate a competitive or lower lifecycle burden than battery electric vehicles under existing grid conditions.
Why Coal Power Impacts EV Environmental Gains
While electric cars offer zero tailpipe emissions and low running costs, their total carbon footprint depends heavily on power generation sources. With India's national grid drawing a major portion of electricity from thermal power, charging models like the Tata Nexon EV or MG Comet EV relies indirectly on fossil fuels. However, unlike internal combustion engine vehicles whose emissions remain fixed, electric cars automatically become cleaner as India expands its solar and wind power capacity.
How EV Owners Can Maximise Green Benefits
Buyers focused on sustainability do not need to pause their transition to electric mobility. EV owners can pair their vehicles with rooftop solar setups under government initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar scheme to achieve near-zero charging emissions. Utilizing public charging stations that source green open-access power also eliminates grid-related carbon intensity.