“The way we move is changing – but is it moving us in the right direction?”
Electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly becoming the face of a cleaner future. Silent, efficient, and emission-free on the road, they promise to solve one of the biggest contributors to climate change: transport.
But what if the story isn’t that simple?
As EV adoption accelerates, a critical question emerges: are we eliminating emissions – or just moving them somewhere else? In this newsletter, we go beyond the surface of electric mobility to unpack where emissions are actually shifting, what this means for climate action, and why the transition is as much about energy systems and supply chains as it is about vehicles. By looking at global trends, India’s evolving EV landscape, and regional developments in places like Telangana, we aim to understand whether the shift to electric is truly sustainable – or simply a redistribution of impact. (Global EV Outlook)
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From Tailpipes to Power Plants
For decades, pollution from vehicles was easy to see, in the form of smoke from exhaust pipes, trapped in city air. EVs change that. They eliminate tailpipe emissions entirely, making cities visibly cleaner.
But emissions don’t disappear – they shift.
Today, pollution happens across three stages:
Tailpipe emissions – from petrol and diesel vehicles
Grid emissions – from electricity used to charge EVs
Embedded emissions – from mining, manufacturing, and batteries
The result? Cleaner roads, but more pressure on energy systems and supply chains
The Numbers Behind the Shift
The EV transition is no longer a trend – it’s a global movement.In 2024, over 17 million EVs were sold globally, accounting for more than 20% of new car sales (Global EV Outlook 2025).
Projections suggest EVs could make up 50% of global car sales by 2030 (Future Projections).
In India, EV sales crossed 2.3 million units in 2025, with electric cars growing over 80% year-on-year. Companies like Tata Motors are driving this shift.
⚡ FUN FACT
A single electric car can reduce lifetime emissions by up to 50% compared to a petrol vehicle – but only if it runs on clean electricity. Otherwise, a significant portion of emissions simply shifts to power generation and supply chains.
Why Emissions Are Being Relocated
Energy systems
EVs depend on electricity. In regions where coal dominates, charging an EV can still generate significant emissions.
Battery supply chains
EV batteries rely on lithium, cobalt, and nickel—materials that require energy-intensive mining and processing.
Global manufacturing
EV production spans complex global supply chains, embedding emissions long before the vehicle hits the road.
When Geopolitics Drives Electrification
Interestingly, the EV transition is not just about climate – it’s also about economics and geopolitics. Rising oil prices, driven by global tensions such as conflicts involving Iran, are making fossil fuels more volatile and expensive. Analysts suggest such disruptions could accelerate EV demand as countries look to reduce dependence on oil (OilPrice). In this sense, EVs are becoming not just a climate solution – but a strategy for energy security.
A Global Lesson: Nepal’s Electric Shift
Some countries are already demonstrating what a truly clean EV transition looks like – Nepal is a strong example.
With over 90% of its electricity coming from hydropower, Nepal operates on one of the cleanest energy grids globally (Hydropower Dominance). This has enabled rapid EV adoption, with electric vehicles rising from 8% of new car sales in 2019 to around 70%+ in 2025 (EV Adoption Growth).The key difference? Clean electricity.
The takeaway is simple: EVs deliver real impact only when paired with clean energy systems.
The Climate – Mobility connection
The electrification of transport sits at the intersection of two major transitions: mobility and energy.
While EVs reduce urban air pollution and dependence on oil, they simultaneously increase demand for electricity and critical minerals. This creates new pressures on energy systems, mining ecosystems, and global trade networks.
This duality is critical.
Climate experts increasingly emphasise that EV adoption alone is not enough. Without clean energy grids and sustainable supply chains, the transition risks delivering only partial climate gains.
India at Crossroads
India’s EV journey reflects both opportunity and contradiction.
On one hand, adoption is rising rapidly, driven by policy support and innovation. On the other hand, a large share of electricity still comes from coal, limiting the environmental benefits of electrification.
However, India’s dominance in two- and three-wheelers presents a unique advantage – enabling faster, more inclusive adoption compared to car-heavy markets
A Regional Lens: Hyderabad and Telangana
At a regional level, Telangana offers a compelling glimpse into how this transition is unfolding on the ground.
Hyderabad, already known as a technology hub, is now emerging as a growing centre for electric mobility. The state’s EV policy, incentives, and expanding charging infrastructure are accelerating adoption across segments – from two-wheelers to shared mobility fleets.
A key driver of this push is the Telangana Mobility Valley, an initiative aimed at creating a comprehensive EV ecosystem by attracting manufacturers, battery innovators, and mobility startups to the region, positioning the state as a hub for future mobility solutions.
Startups are playing a particularly important role in this transformation. Companies like Hala Mobility, a Hyderabad-based EV-as-a-service platform, are reimagining how mobility is accessed. By offering electric vehicles for rent, lease, and shared usage, Hala is addressing last-mile connectivity challenges while reducing dependence on traditional fuel-based transport.
However, the question of relocated emissions becomes especially relevant here.
While EV adoption is helping improve urban air quality, the energy powering this shift still depends significantly on conventional sources. This raises a critical
“Are emissions truly being reduced, or simply redistributed across the energy system?”
At the same time, Telangana’s increasing focus on solar energy and renewable integration presents a powerful opportunity. If aligned effectively, the state could move beyond surface-level gains and become a model for truly sustainable mobility.
In many ways, Telangana reflects the broader reality of the EV transition, promising on the surface, yet deeply dependent on systemic change beneath it.
The future of mobility won’t be built in isolation – it will be shaped through conversations like these.
Join us at the AndPurpose Forum in Hyderabad and be part of the change.
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Beyond Vehicles: A Systems Challenge
The EV transition is often seen as a simple switch – from petrol to electric. In reality, it is much bigger. It requires transforming entire systems – energy, supply chains, and urban mobility. Without this, we risk reducing emissions in cities while increasing them elsewhere.
What Needs to Change
To make mobility truly sustainable, we’d need to:
Clean the grid → expand renewable energy
Rethink supply chains → ethical sourcing and battery recycling
Redesign mobility → public transport and shared systems
Encouragingly, innovation is accelerating – from global leaders like Tesla and BYD to Indian startups building scalable solutions.
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Closing note
“The future of mobility isn’t defined by what we drive – but by what powers it. If we fail to clean the system behind electric vehicles, we risk solving pollution in our cities while quietly exporting it elsewhere.”
With love and purpose,
Team AndPurpose
