Autobayng News Team
Experts also flagged the importance of long-term planning in evaluating emerging technologies.“>
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Friday marked World Environment Day by hosting its 6th International Conference on “Climate Action: Accelerating India’s Transition to a Low-Carbon Future,” bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and sustainability experts to discuss pathways for decarbonising the mobility sector.
The discussions focused on reducing emissions across the automotive value chain through a mix of approaches, including alternative fuels, electrification, circular economy practices, and sustainable manufacturing.
Participants highlighted the need for coordinated policy support, technological innovation, and infrastructure development to accelerate the transition to low-carbon mobility while balancing economic growth and energy security.
Tarun Kapoor, advisor to the Prime Minister, said reducing dependence on fuel imports must remain a priority for the transport sector. “We cannot continue to depend on large-scale fuel imports and, over time, must move towards fuels that can be produced within the country,” he said. He added that while three-wheelers are seeing faster electrification, adoption in passenger vehicles needs to accelerate.
Kapoor noted that India is exploring multiple fuel pathways, including biofuels, ethanol blends, compressed biogas, green hydrogen and synthetic fuels, alongside electric mobility.
Industry executives highlighted that electrification alone would not deliver the transition and must be complemented by infrastructure development. Abhay Bakre, Mission Director of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, said, “Vehicle deployment and charging infrastructure must grow together,” adding that hydrogen and domestic fuel cell manufacturing could play a significant role in the future.
Speakers also pointed to the rapid adoption of electric mobility in certain segments. Diego Graffi, Chairman and Managing Director of Piaggio Vehicles, said electric three-wheelers have already become “a practical and reliable solution for millions of users,” demonstrating the pace of change in smaller vehicle categories.
However, challenges remain in scaling clean mobility across segments. Mahesh Babu, Managing Director of Olectra Greentech, said affordability and economics would determine adoption. “We need to make the unit economics work for customers to enable large-scale adoption,” he said, stressing the importance of strengthening public transport systems.
Experts also flagged the importance of long-term planning in evaluating emerging technologies. “Decisions on new technologies cannot be driven by today’s costs alone,” Bakre said, noting that costs are likely to fall with scale over time.
The conference examined circular economy practices, alternative fuels and supply chain decarbonisation, with experts highlighting the need to strengthen recycling systems, scale biofuels and hydrogen adoption, and reduce manufacturing emissions.
Participants agreed that India’s low-carbon mobility transition will depend on coordinated progress across electrification, alternative fuels, circular systems and green manufacturing.
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